My parents had to put my grandmother in a nursing home today because they simply can not take care of her like she needs to be taken care of. She has been to the hospital several times lately and it is too difficult for my parents to move her without risking further injury. Of course nothing serious was wrong with her but she has to go.

Fortunately she will be able to get good care. When my grandfather retired, he and I discussed his retirement options over a period of several days. He ultimately decided to take an option that would result in lower monthly payments but, in the event he died first, essentially the same monthly payment would be made to my grandfather. I agreed with his decision and it turns out, unfortunately, that we were both right—she did out live him.

I’m not sure how things will go at “the home”. I have seen elderly people enter only to give up all hope and die within a few months. I have seen others flourish as a result of the increased companionship. My grandmother had been getting out of the house much anyway so I am fairly confident that she will actually do better in the home.

The other problem is the guilt that I know my parents must feel now. They did the best they could but they have their own problems to deal with as well. While they are not in bad health, they are suffering from minor problems that limit what they can do. They will also be able to make regular visits so it is not as if they have shipped my grandmother off to no where.

This has made me stop and think though. I am not looking forward to getting old. I still remember my grandmother from when I was a very small boy. She and my grandfather, just like my parents, could and would do anything for me. Even after I got married, she washed our clothes and cooked many meals for us so that my wife and I could focus on completing college. When my daughter came along, about four years later, they did the same for her. All in all I am lucky, albeit a bit sad about all of this.