I had arranged to have lunch at the facility because I was shopping for a rest home and had wanted to check the quality of the food. At 83, and suffering from cancer, Dad had reached a crossroads. Weakened to the point of being barely able to walk, it was clear he could no longer live independently. My brother had long ago moved to another state. Of course, he isn't alone.
Millions live in senior housing.
I don't mean to slam the nursing home industry. There is a need for such institutions, as our senior population remains a fast-growing segment of society. Most who work in the field are caring and well trained. Society may once have been geared to care for the aged at home, but no longer. We're a people on the move, both geographically and economically, and our parents are expected to let us go once we begin tackling careers and family.