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This is surprising. Long Term Living (formerly Nursing Homes Magazine) recently wrote an article about Barack Obama’s plans for health care reform. A poll was also done. A whopping 73% don’t believe Obama’s ideas will make any difference. Also, several comments indicate that people don’t trust Obama has enough experience to do the job.

We tallied the votes and compiled your comments, discovering a striking display of distrust from you, our readers, in Obama’s healthcare reform. A week after posting “Questioning Obama’s Healthcare Reform…,” 17% who read the article decided to vote in the poll that accompanies it, resulting in 73% of that group expressing their doubt of the presidential candidate.

A while back we posted on the (at the time) three major candidates positions regarding health and long term care. Obama, McCain and Clinton each had their plans up at their web sites. Senator Clinton had the most comprehensive and detailed reform ideas of the three. Obama has the least; and McCain is in the middle.

Still, I’m shocked to see so many have little faith in Obama. I tend to agree with most of the comments left on this: He doesn’t have the experience, clout and political will to make the changes necessary to take this on. The lack of mention of health care workers is disturbing to me. The major unions have endorsed him at this point though; previously they had endorsed Mrs. Clinton.

However, Senator McCain’s reform plans don’t go into enough detail to give me any sense of direction. I do know that McCain’s Immigration reform plans can and will have a huge impact on the health care worker crisis: Immigrants will be employed more and more to work as CNA’s, direct care workers and the like. This work is one of those jobs Americans “won’t do”…Immigrants will be given access to work in the US, for periods of time, regardless of their education or skill. Whether this is a good thing or not depends upon one’s experiences with immigrants.

I firmly believe little change can come via politics and elections, when it comes to older Americans and their choices for retirement and life after, including long term care. I believe too many people place too much hope in these elections. It’s always a good idea to keep all candidates in our radar on these issues. In the big picture though, it’s also good to recognize what little they can really do.