I think these stories are so upsetting and I really feel for all of you because of the worry your elderly parents are causing. My own mother died at 66 and my father, now 87, lives with my oldest sister. Thankfully he is still fit and well. But what I have learned by observing him, and my very young 84-year old mother-in-law, is that even though they are old they feel just the same as when they were young. Turn that thought around and imagine it is you who is in your 80's, still feeling like the same person you are today. Now imagine someone is trying to get you to move into a flat, or accommodation where there are other old people you do not know. Maybe there will be people "in charge" you may have to answer to. What if your children said to you, in a few year's time, that you should move to something "more secure".

I am playing devil's advocate here not to make anyone feel guilty when there is so much to worry about with people you love. I think in the end everyone wants to stay in their own home and have familiar friends or neighbours and family around them. I wish I could think of a solution to all this. It makes me think that we should all be thinking of what we will be in for in our old age and plan accordingly.