Fred Patten had a brain stem stroke on March 12, 2005, which left his right hand/arm and right leg paralyzed and impaired his sense of pain on that side. He did not have medical insurance. Now that he has turned 65 in December, his Medicare application is being processed.
Fred spent a month at Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital in Marina Del Rey and six weeks at Rancho Los Amigos in Downey before finally being transferred to Golden State Colonial Convalescent Hospital the day after they removed the feeding tube to his stomach. He can now eat anything up to what nutritionists term "mechanically softened food," but he only has the use of one hand, so he needs help cutting up anything that's not bite-sized, and he can't swallow doughy food (like bread and pizza).
Fred is complying with Medi-Cal rules, which require that he have less than $2,000 in financial assets and that he pay all of his Social Security and his employee pension to the nursing home except for $35 a month, his maximum allowable income. These rules do not limit his personal, medical, hobby, or business assets. They do mean that his income goes to his phone and computer ISP bill, with only a very little left over, which he can't save up beyond $2,000. This $35 a month has to cover gasoline to get to medical appointments at Rancho Los Amigos, new toiletries and new clothes, movie tickets and outside meals. It's not enough to cover non-standard medical equipment (not covered by Medi-Cal) or attending fannish conventions, even local ones. Which is why there is the Fred Patten Donation Fund.