I guess I have been very lucky with my parents. I mean, my dad did have an illness from which he died, but his suffering was very short-lived. He was diagnosed in Oct of last year and died just 8 months later in June. His suffering was fairly minimalized and my mother did not have to deal with a sick husband for very long. My mother is in excellent health for an 80 year-old.

My husband's parents, however, are the opposite. He has had two elderly parents in very poor health. His father died over a year ago yet suffered from poor health for many years and his mother is now on her way out. Her health has also been terrible for many years.

I have to appreciate the stress this does bring on for my husband. Though that is no excuse for some things that happen between us like a fight as a result of him being stressed about his mother.

She called late last night while we were trying to sleep saying non-sensical things, like the staff at her rehab facility are stealing her money and she thought her husband was there with her. She is all out of sorts with increased dementia like symptoms. They are trying to figure out what's going on with her.