The Reality of Leaving a Loved One in a Nursing Home

Deciding to place a family member in a residential, long-term nursing home is one of the most heart-wrenching decisions anyone is in that position ever has to make. Ideally, most of us would love to have our elderly family members and relatives with us safe in our homes. However, this is almost always never the case. Most people would argue that keeping their older loved ones at home can really put a toll on them. What’s with all the ever-increasing caregiving and attention that these older adults need at all times. Adding this on top of your intensely demanding job can even push you to the brink of insanity. But have you ever sat back and thought about whether it’s worth it? You know, taking and leaving your elderly parents in a nursing home.

There, they will get nothing short of professional caregiving and attention they need as you focus on other more important tasks in your life. But, when you think about it, are you also in a position to afford all the bills that come with having your elderly parents in home-based care? If not, then the only next best option is usually to opt for the best care facility to enroll them in.

It’s not as inhuman as some people put it. It may even be for the best. Both for you and for your elderly parent. Why have them in your home if you won’t even be there to take care of them all day every day? What if they need something but can’t get to it and you are not around? Or they suffer a serious health condition like a heart attack or stroke and you are at work oblivious of what’s happening at home? These are scenarios that when you think of, you might think having your loved ones in nursing homes is for the best. That is if you cannot afford to pay for their 24/7 home-based care. But if you can afford it, then you can also opt for it. It gives you more time to spend with your older parents and relatives.

Still, you find that the decision to admit your loved one into a nursing facility, even if it’s a fantastic one, can still put you down in tears. There may be nothing as emotionally heart wrenching as leaving your older parents in a nursing home. The feeling usually accompanied by grief, guilt, panic, terror, shame, and second-guessing. Sometimes, this may be all the reason you need not enroll your older folks in nursing homes. But then if you choose not to make this move, how will you care for them? It’s already clear they are too old to take care of themselves. Because you’re even considering enrolling them into a care facility.

For most people, the reality of having to enroll your older parents into a nursing home may not seem shocking to you. Maybe if you have never had to enroll anyone before or haven’t ever had to do it yourself. But when it is you who now have to do it, you will get the full weight of making this decision.

People get old. That’s a fact. And if you are one of the lucky ones and live to see your grandkids and even great-grandchildren. Then you will know and want to have someone take care of you then. By this time, your whole body remains exhausted and tired almost all the time. Your legs may not even be able to support your whole weight sufficiently. So, you must have someone support you every time you need to move from one point to another. This alone will hinder you from doing other things enjoy cooking, showering, etc. Someone will have to be doing all these things for you. So, if everyone else seems extra busy about their lives to care for you, then the nursing home would be the next best option. The question now lies; how will you or your loved one’s take it?

And that’s when the reality hits and you realize that you need to decide on this, and fast.