Nursing home blues

A dark studio apartment is hung with photos of 22 sweet family members who unified their tops with white clothes. It contains a mother-in-law and a father-in-law, five daughters and sons, five sons-in-laws and daughter-in-laws and 10 grandchildren. This is the last family photo. We didn't take any more pictures together. There are no family photos with great grandchildren.

Father-in-law has enjoyed taking family photos every year for a long time. This is to capture a picture of the extended family with all the family members having a harmonious time. Once a year, he sent us the plane tickets so that we are not going to get away with it at all

As soon as we get to the house in Los Angeles, the children jumped into the pool at behind back that the thick of the palm trees and enjoyed with their cousins. The father-in-law, who enjoys cooking, used to carry food prepared for his grandchildren and make a proud look.

There is no house now where the siblings of husbands grew up and gathered under the palm tree in the picture every year. After the father-in-law dies, the mother-in-law sells the house and lives alone in a studio apartment.

Not a few elderly people are unable to find their homes and lost. The reason is that they don't remember the recent events, only remember of the past events. Even my mother-in-law doesn't remember the recent events and talks about only the past as if it were yesterday.

Someone had to take care of friend’s father, who was alone after the death of friend's mother. But all of her siblings refused to take care of their father. My friend said, "I wish father could go to nursing home," the other siblings took courage and persuaded the father. The place runs by Koreans is full and have to wait for a long time, so the father went to foreigner’s nursing Home.

I visited the nursing home with her. As the elevator door opened, countless old people were surprised by the look at the visitor. They weren’t waiting to get on the elevator, they were waiting for their families in the hope that ‘Wouldn’t it come today?’

Friend’s father complained that he is hungry, saying, "They don't give me a meal." We just saw him eating. She worried that father might have lost his mind. On my way home, I realized that her father was referring to Korean food. He can't even smoke he used to enjoy. Communication is also inconvenient. As the old man shouted at all the inconveniences, could feel it without having to see that it the nursing home would have overpowered the old man in various ways. Before entering the nursing home, a healthy friend's father passed away shortly after he couldn't eat Korean foods and adjust to the new environment.

When I saw my mother-in-law, I felt that my friend's story is approaching my story. She asked me, who trusted and relied on most, "What should I do if I get sick?" To my mother-in-law, who expects my specific plan, "Don't worry. You’re still healthy," I said, shirking my responsibilities. I’m sorry. I can't say, 'I'll take care of you, so make yourself comfortable with the rest of your life.'