I fought to keep my dad at home after he developed dementia. I wish I'd moved him to long-term care sooner.
Kelly Burch My dad was diagnosed with dementia in his early 50s. Caring for him while raising a toddler was incredibly stressful. When he entered long-term care, we were both happier and healthier. When I found myself on a first-name basis with the local paramedics, I knew I needed to face the truth: my dad couldn't continue living at home . It was only a matter of time before the minor emergencies that the EMTs were responding to became something major. That's how I found myself trudging toward an old brick nursing home with my toddler on my hip and my dad reluctantly shuffling behind me. The notorious nursing home smell greeted us as soon as we walked in, and I almost turned around then and there. Instead, I shook hands with the administrator who was giving us a tour. For years, I had made institutions like this the worst-case scenario. And yet, while I noticed the antiseptic smell and dated decor, I also saw that people were happy and engaged. Soon, my daughter was crawling...