This is so depressing.

My Mom was in a nursing home for 10 years. She had Alzheimer's. Amazingly, the lady who cared for her from the day she arrived there (and umpteen others) was still there when my Mom passed away. That's literally unheard of nowadays.....but she loved her job and the ladies she cared for. She genuinely cared - and you could tell. We were so blessed to have had her.

My Dad was in assisted living (can you say $$$$$$!!) and then a nursing home. He wasn't in the nursing home very long.....had a heart attack, then a stroke and then passed away in Hospice. His assisted living took every last dime he had...but it was worth it because he enjoyed his life there. He was there almost 3 years....and it took all $200,000 of his money.

My sister and her husband didn't have medical insurance. He was self employed and, although he made a good living they couldn't afford the high premiums. So, when my sister developed early-onset Alzheimer's at the age of 47 my BIL cared for her as long as he could. I am convinced if she had better medical care she might still be with us today. When it got to the point of no return and he couldn't care for her at home (I witnessed it....and it was BAD) she was placed into the only nursing home that had an available bed. While most of the people who worked there were nice.....some were just there for a paycheck and they couldn't have cared less about the residents they cared (?) for. I hated to visit her there. Hated the building, hated the smells, hated the fact that my sister who was only 10 years older than me was there instead of enjoying her grandchildren. She died there.

There are some really nice facilities here.....if you can afford them. If you can't you go where the State tell you to go.