[Soterik]

We were able to keep my dad at home through the whole process, it was a condo that he had been in for about 10 years prior to medical/mental issues began. It was horribly expensive but dad had the ability to fund 24hr care and he had a spare bedroom. I am/was living very close so I quite literally saw him everyday and though it was tough at times, I wouldn't trade a minute of it ( I think that came out right...). He passed in his own bed (at the age of 94, was independent till 92) about a year ago, and I'm very thankful that we were able to keep him in his own home.

One of the things that was critical to us was that the CNA(s) were able to get dad out and drive around the city (Seattle) where dad had grown up. These drives (daily, up to 5 hours a day) were stimulating to my dad to keep his memory going, and I could then have great conversations with him at the end of the day on what they had done, seen, where, etc., and I'd get great old stories from dad from the old days. We were also able to get dad out to meet old friends and community members this way as well.

just my .02