To the editor:

Nursing home care of the elderly is so expensive that only very affluent families can afford the price. So, most elderly are forced onto humiliating Medicaid, which provides that one keep $60 a month for personal expenses. However, the state of Rhode Island has a wise law providing salaries to family members who will care for their own elderly at home. This frees them to resign their other job.

In my 80s and 90s, I have lived in Presbyterian Manor, Babcock, Brandon Woods and now Pioneer Ridge. Only public housing Babcock is affordable to most elderly. But, of course, Babcock does not provide nursing care. Babcock does provide a noon meal on Monday through Friday and is near Dillons grocery store.

In Canadian and European democracies, the state pays for the medical care and hospitalization of its citizens. In those nations, hospitals are publicly owned and operated by medical doctors who are public employees. Unlike the United States, doctors and hospitals are not free to charge whatever they wish. Nor can private health insurance companies charge exorbitant premiums for medical insurance.

May Congress pass a second health care law.