MA,
That's an awesome poem.

Anne327,
I love your poems and am so happy you decided to join us. IMO
time stands still for the elderly, who are no longer living active, productive lives. Ten minutes to them is like an hour
to the rest of us. Time crawls for the very young and the very
old. They're lonesome. They long for attention. And some, not
all, put on a show to get recognition. Oh, I know most are actually spaced out. But IMO a few pretend to be whatever the
people who put them away, claim that they are. Stepchildren
say my friend is wacko; she loves hubby. So she goes along with what his kids want her to be. Words cannot describe the sadness of this situation. IMO, Inside all older people, resides a youngster, for all eternity.

Truthful, is not always cheerful Anne. I think we older gals just tell it like we see it. All the poems here are special in one way or another, just as life is and we all are, special in our own way!

In UK we have the Care Commision.This Government body inspect...deal with complaints and any care facility must answer to this Commision or their premises will close.This body which is made up of a cross section paid and elected on to serve as advisers is important.Family can take their concerns and things looked into.

Anne, no need to apologize for anything. I just have such a soft spot in my heart for the elderly because they're so vulnerable. I certainly understand the complications of Alzheimer's and dementia and I realize the difficulties in dealing with that. I don't expect everything I read or write to be cheerful. It should all just flow naturally and give a voice to all.

Anne my "hit man" comment was meant to make people laugh. It is unfortunately all true but thats my problem, and I love to make people laugh, the same as you do. I wasn't critising your words, I hope you know that. I would never do that to you. All I meant was your words show us the truth of what caregiving is like. HUGS!

In Care facilities will have been registered so will fall into the unbrella of the Care Commision.
Private arrangements are a blurry area..some people find some one in the ads then are at risk.

Anne327,
You take care of you. I'm happy you won't accept abusive behavior from anyone. Life is 2 short, 2 B the object of abuse. Over the last few years, I've discovered some of the elderly are placed in facilities 4 the demented, while they're yet mentally fit and fine. Some family members are not nice folks and can't wait for ma or pa 2 pass on. There, the older person finds him or herself in a group of wacked out peers. Something like this rots, big time, but it happens. All I can say is, God help the elderly. "Old age isn't 4 sissies," was my friend's favorite saying. Anne, I've got to get off this subject B 4 I get myself in trouble. You hang in there girl and only work where you feel safe!

Tail tickles my nose, making me sneeze. 'Oh, good Lord.'

There's a cat on my keyboard,
And I can't type a word.
I'm tryin' to write,
Not pet, fuzzy fur.

Poems keep me mellow,
So kitty cat, friend,
Go away for now,
And come on back,
When this ends.

I'm tryin' to be witty,
But you're gettin' in the way,
You're stiflin' my know how,
And mutin' what I wanna say!

Oh my goodness. This is still going on? I'm tickled!