Quote Originally Posted by Karen View Post
Sparks, I have had the experience of needing to put a loved one is a Nursing Home. In my case, it was my Great Aunt. Fortunately, she was still mentally somewhat "with it" - she and I visited every nursing home in our city, and one in the next city over, just in case. The one we chose was not the most expensive - that's no indicator. But they allowed and encouraged visitors at any time - this is important, and held activities to which families were invited a couple times a year.

There are things you can look for, in Aunt Bertha's case, she could no longer physically care for herself, and needed nursing care. She was in the end slipping some mentally as well. And for the most part she liked it there. The staff treated the patients with respect, and were always nice. They allowed me and others to visit, spent time with Aunt Bertha, and she was never mistreated.

While nursing homes are to be avoided, they sometimes are necessary, and can be good places. Just do research ahead of time, okay?

Oh of course... I understand that.

my great grandmother couldn't WAIT to go to a nursing home... SERIOUSLY lol. she was so excited about it and loved it there... although until the day she died (at 89 I believe) she only lived in the assisted living area instead of the full care area.

My grandparents on my fathers side will probably never ever be in a nursing home... they are 85 and 90 and still live in their own apartment and do all their own errands and everything. it's rather amazing lol.

So I'm not poo pooing nursing homes all together... I just don't want to have to put my parents or Brians parents somewhere if they don't want to be there or don't HAVE to be there.