Retirement homes, the new work houses? [View All]

[Javaman]

I'm on a major rant jag today. I'm full of opinions today lol.

While listening to Randi yesterday, a few older callers called in regarding having to work until they die because as the costs of everything goes up, wages, pensions, salaries, etc, either don't change, stay low or do not meet the cost of living increase.

Maybe I'm a bit Orwellian in my thinking, but I see a scary future where retirement homes will be used as factories.

Older folks once wishing to "retire" (sorry to use the quotes but it's getting as so that it will be a fantastic notion) will be the new source of cheap labor.

Currently, prisons are used in such areas a telemarketing, help services and various ordering phone banks. What, honestly, prevents some corporation from approaching a retirement homes and proposing that same exact situation to them? Instead of the residents living out their last days there,(even though they have paid for that right), they instead work and save on their monthly payment.

The upper scale retirement homes will be put off by this. However, the ones that struggle to provide basic services will jump at the chance.

This option will presented as an option for residents to get the full medical benefit they require in the older years. Saying that, they are still full and productive members of society that still have a lot to contribute! (call me crazy, but the notion of having a lot left to contribute for me, usually falls into the category of being a wise person who gives back to the community, not working as a plebe for a corp)
So instead of paying their full amount or being wards of the state, the corporation will be looking out for their best interest and provide them with a top notch health plan. Aka, using them as a cheap source of labor.

This is still one of the last sacred cows that has yet to be fully exploited. Yes, I stay up at night worrying about shit like this.

So when people my age, 42, jokingly say, "I'll be working until I drop dead or they will find me changed to my desk when I die", how far from the mark are they really?