WHEN THEY GROW OLD

THERE COMES A TIME IN EVERY PERSON'S LIFE THAT THEY GROW OLD. SOME OF US WILL REMAIN RELATIVELY HEALTHY-BOTH MENTALLY AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY. HOWEVER, MANY OF US WILL EVENTUALLY FIND OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE ONE-OR BOTH OF OUR PARENTS CAN NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. MY FATHER BEGGED US NOT TO PUT HIM IN A CARE CENTER. OUR MOTHER HAD PASSED AWAY IN A PHYSICAL RE-HABILITATION FACILITY, SO WE WANTED OUR FATHER TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN HIS HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE BUT, BECAUSE OF HIS DECLINING MEMORY, WE FINALLY FELT HE WOULD BE SAFER AND BETTER TAKEN CARE OF IN AN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY. HE PASSED AWAY 13 DAYS LATER-FROM INJURIES THAT HE SUSTAINED IN A FALL AS HE WAS COMING BACK TO HIS ROOM FROM WANDERING IN THE HALLS OF THE FACILITY IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING. I KNOW MANY WHO AGONIZE OVER THE DILEMMA OF WHAT THE BEST COURSE OF CARE IS FOR THEIR AGING PARENTS. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY SUFFER WITH GUILT NO MATTER WHICH COURSE THEY DECIDE TO CHOOSE. IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU. MAY THIS SONG HELP YOU FIND PEACE IN WHICHEVER COURSE YOU FEEL INSPIRED TO TAKE WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THIS SITUATION.