Better to ignore cold-hearted Jim.

My good friends and neighbors, Rick and Julie, are warm-hearted people. So decent that they may make me seem cold-hearted. Because I encourage them to put Julie’s dad into assisted living. He’s lived with them for five years. In steadily declining health. He’s got dementia. Probably Alzheimer’s. The care-giving has taken a heavy physical and emotional toll on both Rick and Julie. But they are dedicated to doing the ‘right thing.’  Which is far more than most couples would do for their aging parents. They have made tremendous sacrifices. For the sake of Julie’s parents. Her dementia-riddled mother died this summer. So they have a reduced workload. Though they may not consider it work. Rather, loving devotion. Thought I had Rick and Julie convinced that now they must get on with life. Put dad into a home. Visit him often, of course. And even bring him home frequently. Rick and Julie even reserved an assisted living room for dad. Paying monthly rent. But they’ve stopped short of putting dad in. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting until the right time. Maybe next week or next month. I’m suspecting, though, that dad will continue living with them.  For the rest of his life. Could be another five years, or more. Last night, I had dinner with Rick and Julie. And good conversation. I mostly listened to Julie. Lamenting about the lack of stimulation for residents of the assisted living place. Maybe it isn’t the right place for dad, she mused.  Makes me wonder. Maybe the right place is truly with warm-hearted Rick and Julie. Better to ignore cold-hearted Jim. –Jim Broede