I spent some time in a nursing home for rehab after heart failure. I was 58 at the time. It was the most depressing place I'd ever been. They had a weekly board of activities posted in the hallway and had a very nice dining area with a grand piano. Well, none of the scheduled activities ever occurred and no one ever ate in the dining room or even touched the piano. I would go walking up and down the hallways and I discovered why. I never saw anyone else ever leave their beds for anything at all. They all looked comatose. And, I got about 30 minutes each morning for my rehab. The rest of the day was free. Free for what? Sitting around watching TV all day? That was about the only choice offered.
But the worst part was I had come straight from the hospital after heart surgery with a new list of heart medications my new cardiologist had given me. After I was there a couple of days in the morning when I would normally take five pills they gave me only two of them. I asked where the rest of my pills were. They told me I didn't need them. I explained that's what my cardiologist told me to take. He replied well we have our own doctors here and they tell us what meds you need or don't. I tried to explain that I am not one of their residents and would prefer to follow my own doctor’s orders. They said we can't do that. At that point I was so furious that I demanded to talk to the director of facility immediately. When he finally arrived to my room I explained what was going on and he agreed saying since I was not an official resident he would allow me to follow my own doctor’s orders. All went well until a couple of days later the exact same thing happened. I only received two of the five pills that I needed. So, I called the director again and I explained that I would be leaving and going home in a couple of hours before this place kills me and I'll get my rehab from a physical therapist on the outside. He agreed that that would probably be best for everyone and within two hours I was back home.
Now don't get me wrong. The place looked lovely and was kept clean, but the reality of the place would be revealed only if you actually lived there as a resident. That is why I am 100% sure I do not want to spend my last days, months, or years in a nursing home and will do anything, including taking my own life, to avoid them.
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