rapidranger79, the issue is that I can't find anything. If I search "home healthcare" plus Washington, D.C. on AltaVista, I get 40 sites that have nothing to do with what I need, or they're based in Canada. Searching www.htnet.hr yields zero results for "home healthcare." How did you manage to track this down back then? Thanks in advance, stormylynx14.
Jamie Clark74 said:One thing I know for sure—this idea of "supporting your parents" is becoming a relic of the past. It just won't happen anymore.
In my parents' case, it’s definitely not happening. People spent their entire lives working, and now they have enough in their 401(k)s to make my head spin. Add in Social Security and the fact that, like any responsible citizens, they were smart enough to invest in private accounts, and there’s zero need for me to step in.
As for assisted living—I agree with you. That should be the absolute last resort, and only if intensive care is actually required.
My grandfather is 89 and recently developed some serious health issues that haven't been fully diagnosed yet. Knowing how the American healthcare system works, I know answers won't come quickly. It seems to be some kind of sudden paralysis; he’s lost all motor function in his legs, though I'm not sure about sensation. He's in the hospital for now, but I have no idea how long they'll keep him there, or what happens once he's discharged. My biggest fear is them releasing him without a clear diagnosis. Who is going to look after him? Ideally, he would stay at home with meal delivery services and daily visits from a visiting nurse. The alternative is assisted living. A friend told me about a relative who passed away in a nursing home in a small town in the Midwest—apparently the only facility for chronic care near Washington, D.C.—and she described it as a living hell.
If anyone can provide addresses for reputable home health care agencies or quality assisted living facilities, please let me know. Thanks in advance.
illegale said:P.S. There’s an old saying for this kind of mindset:"material foundation, spiritual upgrade."
Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Fromm's theory aren't at odds; they complement one another. You could argue that those obsessed solely with possession are simply underdeveloped.
Maslow postulated that humans have primary needs—food, clothing, shelter—and once those are met, we seek security, then self-actualization at the peak.
So, if someone satisfies their basic needs but continues to chase unjustifiable material excess—not out of necessity, but pure accumulation—they haven't moved up the ladder. They're stuck at the bottom. A developmental stuntedness, perhaps?
Kate Lee12, you’re being too abstract when you try to dissect being versus having. Theories don't exist in a vacuum; they have to be viewed through the lens of their era. On the flip side, your example of the "versatile man" is far too literal. This isn't about one specific life scenario—it's about the ultimate pursuit: Having or Being? The dominant value system of that time was rooted entirely in possession, and Fromm wanted to pivot toward being. He wanted people to define themselves by who they are—their essence and function—rather than what they own. It’s a short leap from there to realizing that the goal of life shouldn't be amassing stuff, but rather self-actualization or at least developing one's own potential. I don't think Fromm was arguing against ownership itself, provided it stems from fulfilling one's potential, but he was certainly fighting against making possession the primary drive.
It comes down to the purpose of existence. Is it about amassing wealth or self-actualization? You have to view Fromm's philosophy through the lens of post-war Germany, where the obsession with possession was extreme—a "Haste was, biste was" mentality. Only then does his work truly make sense as an antithesis to the dominant materialism of that era.
That materialism arrived in waves. First, there was the food craze, where Americans in the late 40s began gorging on lard, buttercream, and high-calorie foods after years of scarcity.
Then came the Furniture boom, as everyone rushed to buy pieces to decorate homes built atop rubble and broken bricks—I know the feeling, having lived in a building like that myself. Alongside that, we saw the Travel boom, with people riding their Vespas or driving their Isetts from the Rust Belt down to Miami.
While early post-war materialism offered some practical utility, the urge to possess eventually shifted toward excluding others or using objects as mere status symbols. Fromm rejected this. He defined "functional ownership"—possession used for a specific purpose, like a farmer owning a tractor. He didn't argue against owning things; he simply tried to redefine the individual by their function rather than their possessions.
Jason Wells4 said:Over in Australia, the hype for American Idol 2004 is already in full swing. They have a nightly countdown to the big show on their national network, SBS. Plus, the viewers get to weigh in:
American Idol Viewer Poll What's the vibe like in your neck of the woods? 🙂
Wait, what? Since when was Australia part of Europe? 😕 Don't you guys have some sort of Pacific Song Contest instead? 😉
Anyway, my favorite Swiss man just got knocked out in the semifinals. He walked away with zero—absolute zero—points. Now they're debating whether to even bother showing up next time. 🙂
Max Mutzke is going to steamroll the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waiting for Tonight." Honestly, the rest of them should have just stayed home; they aren't even in his league. For the last time I tuned into Eurovision, everything felt like elevator music you'd endure in some cheap hotel—background noise at best. But Max? The guy is actually talented. I just hope he doesn't turn out to be another one-hit wonder.
Disney, you’ve achieved everything there was to achieve, which is quite a feat. As you noted, before he had professional help, he was injuring himself, hiding in the garage, and eating birdseed; now, at least, he’s under medical supervision and properly cared for.
Your next—and final—"external" goal is to secure this stability, meaning obtaining legal guardianship to ensure he continues receiving the care he needs.
The "internal" goal is to accept that psychosis exists and will recur, perhaps even more frequently according to those clinical assessments. Cherish the periods of stability and view the crises as a standard part of his condition. Stop hoping your father will ever change his mind. His fault lies with him, and knowing that should be enough. Adjust your expectations to protect yourself from further disappointment.
You are nearly there. A few more steps and your task is complete. No one could have done a better job than you.
Ronald Castillo5 said:Exactly, stormylynx14. That’s my target too. My timeline is just longer—maybe 15 to 20 years. I haven't figured out how to compress that into a decade yet. Not saying it's impossible, just hasn't happened.
Here is the math: A gross rental yield on residential property at about 7%, minus 2% in interest, leaves you with 5% net. If you define financial independence as $120,000 a year, you need $2.4 million in real estate. To get there, you need an initial $800,000 investment. Solid properties here start at $1 million, so once you save up $330,000, you can pull the trigger. Buy one property that nets you roughly $40,000 annually after taxes (calculated for a corporation). Keep working, save what you can, and hopefully, in a few years, you'll have another $500,000 ready to buy a second $1.5 million property. That’s the path to freedom.
My goal is total financial independence within five years. I'm taking the necessary steps—primarily aggressive saving and strategic investing. It’s a test of patience 🙄. If I can just land the right side hustle, I'll be set.
Last week I caught something resembling the flu: fluctuating temperatures ranging from 99 to 101 degrees (higher at night than during the day), headaches, and swollen, tender lymph nodes in my neck—though nothing in my groin or armpits. I had similar symptoms about a month ago, but back then it came with throat, sinus, and respiratory infections that left me sidelined for ten days. 🙄
Last time, I just took antibiotics, but this time I rushed to the doctor by the second day to prevent things from getting worse. They ran blood work (the CRP test wasn't definitive, so they couldn't tell if it was viral or bacterial), and now mono is a possibility. I got the results today after calling my primary care physician's office. The assistant first told me "everything looks fine," so I asked which specific bacteria we were dealing with, considering my wife is pregnant. After she went to check the files, she came back saying, "We don't know exactly which bacteria it is, but we tested for infectious and dangerous diseases, and none of those were present."
How do these labs actually operate? I see they have different test panels, and now I’m wondering: can you specifically hunt for one bacterium, or does the test identify whatever is there? The answer I got wasn't satisfying, and I suspect either my doctor or his assistant is stalling because they don't want to dig through the actual results and are just guessing. I’d feel terrible if I passed something to my wife; she doesn't need an infection on top of a pregnancy.
Urethritis. It’s essentially when common skin bacteria decide to go rogue and cause inflammation in the urinary tract. I have to take antibiotics just to prevent it from migrating to my bladder or kidneys.
Guys, if you feel any stinging during urination or sex, don't hesitate—get to a doctor immediately. They aren't going to force injections on you, getting a swab is straightforward, and amputation is reserved for the extreme cases. 🙂
I'm experiencing pain while urinating, and there's been some discharge since yesterday. Two questions: 1. Should I see a doctor immediately, or can I wait a few days to see if it clears up on its own? 2. I have a workout scheduled for tonight; is that safe to do?
My neighbor is struggling with anorexia, bulimia, or some combination of the two; I can't say for sure. Seeing her out in a mini skirt during the summer is terrifying. It’s like looking at a walking corpse. Imagine legs where the shins are significantly thinner than the knees. Imagine forearms where you can see both bones clearly. It's gruesome.
She isn't depressed, but she seems driven by perfectionism. I see her outside just sucking on grass for hours. Sometimes I catch her at the window dusting rags. That's probably how she spends most of her free time.
When we talk, everything seems normal. It was only when I brought up fitness training that she became noticeably defensive. As if she desperately needs it.
She has an interesting tactic with food. She won't tell you directly that she doesn't want anything when you offer, but when I asked if she wanted a beer, she accepted it and never even touched it. Same with actual meals. You put a plate of salad in front of her and she just leaves it there. Honestly, I'm just waiting for the day I find her obituary in the local mailbox.