It’s never easy when old folks lose the ability to care for themselves and become increasingly dependent on others. I have relatives who are ever eager to send off the old folks to nursing homes even when it is quite clear that they are financially able to hire someone to care for them at home.

Culturally I think we’ve become much less filial and more willing to push the older folks out of the way the minute they are no longer of any use to us. At least, this is what my sister-in-law is notorious for.

I’m not really in favor of sending old folks to a nursing home unless there is really no other choice and it is clear that they will receive better care and attention there and will enjoy the company of others their age.

But even before we do, we should check out the resources on Better Caring to get an idea of what sort of services are provided and what sort of psychological impact being put in a home will have on the aged.

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