Hard choices.

My two favorite Alzheimer care-givers. Rick and Julie. Are running out of patience. With Julie’s Alzheimer-riddled father Ron. Because it’s virtually impossible. To get adequate respite. That is, if they keep Ron in their home. That’s where he’s been. For two months now. Ever since they rescued Ron from a nursing home. Where he got grossly inadequate care. They’ve been afraid to put Ron  into another nursing home. They’ve lost faith in nursing homes. Justifiably.  Because Ron was being warehoused. And over-medicated. He lacked one-on-one mental and physical stimulation. Ron is getting better care. From Rick and Julie. And a few friends. But Ron is on a steady decline. He needs increasing amounts of attention.  Chances are. He won’t last another six months. But I wonder if Rick and Julie will last that long. For their own sake. For survival. They may have to sort of write off Ron. My guess. If Ron could fully see himself. He’d opt out. Preferring death to a torturous lingering life with Alzheimer’s.  –Jim Broede