Jerel Shaw
@jerelshaw

Sales and Compassion:  Hard to Envision the Mutuality

After my sister experienced devastating medical challenges last year, we weren't sure that she would come out alive.

While that family as a whole is gracefully aging, the truth is that the more you age the more you become at-risk for some of the serious illnesses associated with aging.  Yet, believe me, aging is not the absolute determinant in determining who gets sick or who dies- yes, age is nothing but a number, a times.  But that fact that my sister could could escape the long lineage of genes that have afflicted our family over the years (now of us can) there was little need to seek out a culprit.  Diabetes and high blood pressure, which are seen as heart-related illnesses have been rampant in the family.  So the real question was: What is the particular consequence - what is the name of the effect.

The story is long, but to make this particular entry short, the results of her medical emergency left both legs amputated and the need for intensive and indefinite dialysis.  Her spiritual and mental strength with support from family helped to keep her looking forward, which brings up the next challenge, aftercare.

Let me just say that it's hard to find good help.  Of course, several factors really are significant, including:  insurance coverage;  your wealth index; and the challenge of navigating through many different providers that are not all good.

While the public offers alternatives and resources, like medicare and medicaid, what was discovered was the degree of commoditization of human health - if there 's a dollar to be made.  The point, quite frankly, is that when something is commoditized, the sales pitch becomes the greatest ploy for determining a person's making a decision about their health and welfare.

If there is no genuine compassion (The love of many are waxing cold), than the product sold may be below standards, or it would be like selling a house to a person who can't afford it and not being accountable for the devastating results.

Unfortunately, this is what is going on the the health industry as initiatives like the "Affordable Care Act" sounds great, yet may not be all that great for millions.  Yet, just like health care in general, people are desperate the product.  When you are in dire need is when the non-compassionate salesperson can sell you wooden nickels.  Older Americans are at risk for all kinds of scams.

The biggest problem, in my opinion, is that you can't teach [a salesperson] someone to be compassionate, The problem is that if the salesperson is not compassionate (by being honest and caring) to some degree, then one devastation can turn into another, like 'lemon' car causing a head on collision.