Working for Senate

Shadowing a CNA at Beacon Hospital & Rehabilitation in Pocatello

June 2007

Larry wrote the following op-ed for the Idaho State Journal following his shift at Beacon Hospital and Rehabilitation, a skilled nursing home specializing in behavioral care, bariatrics, and rehabilitation in Pocatello:

The other day I had the opportunity to work a shift in a skilled nursing facility in Pocatello. As part of my “Working for Senate” campaign, I spent the day with Royanna Iverson, a certified nursing assistant (CNA), as she made her rounds at Beacon Hospital and Rehabilitation.

I watched as Royanna performed many of the professional duties she and her colleagues handle 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But I was able to pitch in and experience firsthand what it’s like to feed patients who can’t feed themselves, comb patients’ hair and wash their faces, and turn patients so that they don’t get bed sores. I even helped change a colostomy bag.

During afternoon rounds, I took patients’ blood pressure. One lady asked if I was a trainee because I got the Velcro reversed on the arm wrap. She busted me for sure.

I was deeply touched by a loving elderly couple who were under hospice care. As I served them breakfast, I noticed how caring the husband was for his wife, making sure she had just what she wanted. Later, I saw them sitting on a couch holding hands. They were at the end of their years on earth ... together.

The span of ages surprised me. The youngest resident was 38 and the oldest was 101. People need skilled nursing care for many reasons, including accidents, strokes, and disease. But long-term care professionals treat them all with skill, dignity and compassion.

I also learned a bit about hospital administration. I sat in on a team leaders’ meeting in mid-morning and heard firsthand about the facility’s operations. Later, I was able to meet with management to discuss reimbursement issues and the facility’s relationship with all levels of government.

Our country is facing a health care train wreck as our baby boomers reach retirement age. We must continue to improve our system and provide the needed doctors, nurses and assistants to offer quality, affordable care for our citizens. We must base reforms on American values. And we must all take personal responsibility for our health.

I learned far more about long-term health care in my one day at Beacon than I could from any briefing or report. During the next 16 months, I will continue to work with Idahoans to hear firsthand the pressures you are under as you raise their families, save for retirement, educate your kids and pay taxes. Most candidates do all the talking, usually through TV ads, but I believe it’s important to listen and learn.

And I believe Idaho deserves a United States Senator who understands health care up front, close and personal. Today, there are approximately 230,000 Idahoans without health insurance. Eighty percent of them work. Those families could be a broken leg away from bankruptcy.

Across America, some 47 million Americans wake up every day without health insurance. Many millions more are underinsured. Our senior citizens are getting squeezed as they retire from the workplace but aren’t yet eligible for Medicare or can’t afford their prescription drugs. Our small businesses don’t have access to national pools of participants, so the premiums remain high and the coverage minimal.

As a state and country, we can do better. As your U.S. Senator, I will work shoulder to shoulder with Idahoans and help solve problems that confront Idaho families. Together, we can get it done in a bi-partisan manner and move our country forward.

There’s more work to be done. Let’s work together. For more information on my campaign, please visit www.LaRoccoforSenate.com.

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