I'm specifically looking for what you would do if you are unable to care for yourself, but do have your full mental capacity, and live alone?
When I was hospitalized in 2003 with a PE & Steroid induced myopathy, the nurses were discussing whether or not to ask the doc to make an order to put me in a nursing home. Having worked there during clinicals, I saw how the residents were jerked around, and herded like cattle into the showers in the shower chair without their having anything to say about it at all, and I noticed a resident sitting in her wheelchair in the TV room, looking at the TV, but not watching it. She had such a sad, hopeless expression on her face.
When I was much younger, it was different because we nurses aides who wanted to, were allowed to create activities for the residents, and that did brighten their days a bit. I wrote a monthly newspaper for them, I always targeted 4 different people to make up a poem about their activities. I called the column, "Life Begins at 80" I also created a mens' club called, the Cracker Barrel Club" where the men would talk about the things they did in their earlier years. I always brought a show and tell item for us to talk about, etc. Another aide and I put on shows for them and decorated the place for the holidays.
You don't see that anymore. How very sad. And I have made it very clear to my family that I in no way want to be put in a place like that. You lose your freedom, your identity, and you don't get to choose when to go out or what to do. This is something that has been on my mind for a very long time, and it is a real concern for me.
