LETTER: Washington Cares Act is important

By Patrick Conley

I read with interest the “point-counterpoint” opinions regarding I-2124 in the Oct. 6 Spokesman-Review.

I lost my wife of 43 years to Alzheimer’s last March. I’d been her caregiver for almost seven years, through a cracked vertebrae and two ribs, COVID, then Alzheimer’s and a broken hip.

After I realized I couldn’t’ keep up with the house, the yard and garden and caring for my wife, I began a search for institutional care for my wife.

I quickly discovered the difference between “living care” and “assisted care.” If you don’t feel comfortable with a loved one living alone behind closed doors (and my wife could not), assisted care is your only option.

Where I live, the only facility offering assisted care runs $12,000 a month with a limited number of beds available for Medicaid patients. Yes, you read that correctly – $12,000 a month.

Plus, there’s a waiting list for Medicaid patients, so I asked that my wife be put on their list.

If accepted, I would have had to pay three months out of pocket before they’d accept my wife’s Medicaid payments. Three months at $12,000 per comes out to $36,000, the same amount the Washington Cares Acts can provide.

Hey, if you can afford $12,000 out of pocket each month, more power to you. Most of us aren’t so lucky and could use a bit of help caring for our loved ones. The Washington Cares Act is important. The 0.58% payroll tax is a pittance.

Vote no on I-2124.

Read the letter in the Spokesman-Review.