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My country, the USA, is the greatest country in the world. But, we have sadly put ourselves in a situation where we do not honor our elderly and hold them in a family position of great esteem for their wisdom and experiences like we once had and like all other countries still do. We have backed ourselves into a corner where one has to be independently wealthy to actually keep their ill and elderly loved one at home. Our society demands a high-priced lifestyle that usually requires both spouses to work outside of the home. So when grandma or grandpa can no longer do for themselves and are unsafe to stay home alone, families end up checking out other options. Usually well-meaning family members take turns assisting grandma; this frequently wears thin soon as no one realizes the amount of time that must be dedicated to caring for someone. The next step is hiring caregivers to come into the home. They do not come cheap and dependability us usually an issue. Family members will try to move grandma into their own home. Eventually, grandma and grandpa may need to go into an assisted living or personal care home facility where there is a more closely supervised living situation. But then grandma and grandpa will only qualify to live here if they are able to perform certain skills for themselves, called ADL's-Activities of Daily Living. If grandpa cannot take himself to the bathroom, he won't be living here. If grandma suffers from some confusion, maybe Alzheimer's, she won't be living here. So if more care is required to keep grandma and grandpa safe and clean and fed - and it can't be done at home or in a family member's home, or in an assisted living situation of some sort, then the next step may well be the nursing home. And sometimes grandma or grandpa may have an accident(falls at home, possibly with resulting fractures) or become very ill (Stroke, possibly unable to communicate, walk, eat). After being treated acutely and stabilized at the hospital, the next step may well be the nursing home.

A stay in a nursing home is always ordered by a physician. Laws have changed; people can't be dumped in nursing homes anymore. It's true-the Nuclear Regulatory Commission used to have the most regulations, but now the Nursing Homes have more; more than anyone! So, grandma or grandpa come to the nursing home-they've come for help. The stay there is frequently temporary; folks come to heal. They come for therapy. Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapy. They

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