by Ticia

Created on: October 13, 2008   Last Updated: January 26, 2009

The care and well being for elderly parents is most definitely the responsibility of their children. Unfortunately not everyone feels that way. For me it is not even debatable. I come from a family of seven and I make it my responsibility even if others do not. My parents were there for me through the good and bad times of my life and I want and choose to be there for them. It is about choice and people have to live with their choices. If it weren't for them I would not be the person I am today. I am a very compassionate individual and this is a trait I would not change for anything in the world. I am so thankful to have the ability to feel and help those in need, especially my own parents.

There are choices out there and when it is impossible to physically take care of a very dependent parent who requires constant care, nursing homes are an option many choose. I hope I am never in a position to have to put my Dad in a home and I will do everything I can to take care of him by exploring every option available to me. For me, a nursing home would be my last option as long as I have my own health. With that said, some do not have a choice but to use this option - but when does one make that decision? I have visited many relatives and have many friends who placed their parents in nursing homes because they chose not to care for them. They could have lived in assisted living but their children couldn't be bothered helping them facilitate this and having to worry about them. They are so lonely that it breaks my heart and sadly some of them were not ready for this way of life in confinement and away from family. We live in a society where people are so rushed with their own lives that they don't even make the time to visit their parents once they are placed in nursing homes. This is very unfortunate and I now understand why so many elderly people are afraid of nursing homes. There are some nursing homes that do not give the best care and these people are at their mercy because no one is there visiting them to see what is going on. Sure in the beginning they receive visits from their children but this soon stops. I highly respect and hold in the highest regard those people that make every effort to frequently visit their parent(s) in nursing homes. In addition, they are on top of their parent(s) health and emotional well being and this is most important. It is the end of the road for them and the beginning of a very lonely world which was once filled with laughter;

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