Doris and Alice on Big Pharma and Motorized Scooters

We had dinner with family friends Doris and Alice last night.  Doris is 90 and Alice is 91.  They have some strong opinions (they always do).  Doris and Alice gave permission for sharing their opinions on GeriPal, with their picture.

• Big pharma is taking a hit, according to recentheadlines.  Lots of drugs are going off patent and becoming generic.  Few new drugs are in the pipeline. Should we feel sorry for big pharma? Doris and Alice:  “No! We have enough drugs already.”  The relentless profit incentive of big pharma drives up costs of drugs to levels that are bankrupting seniors and our economy. “They make too much money already.” 
• “Motorized scooters are a scam!”  Of course motorized scooters are a good thing for some folks who really can’t walk.  But Doris and Alice find themselves bombarded with advertisements for motorized scooters.  They feel that the advertisements are disingenuous when they advertise themselves as “free” or “at no cost to you.”  The cost is to our health care system, paid for by Medicare via our taxes, and these wheelchairs are never re-used.  Both are liberal politically – and still march in local rallies – but said “it makes me feel like a conservative republican to say this is fraud and abuse of our tax dollars.” They also know of elders who have given up on physical therapy for the ease of getting around in a motorized scooter.  The ads imply that “anyone who wants one can have one – even if they’re not disabled” They say, “intermediaries who sell these scooters are taking advantage of seniors.” 

What do you think?

by: Alex Smith