There Is No Place Like Home

I'm glad my father's time in rehab is just about up. When he left the hospital this last time, he had to go to a rehab/nursing facuility to finish up his IV treatment. It has been rough on him for sure, being hooked up to the IV for up to 16 hours a day and constant interruptions throughout the night. It has been tough for my mother as well but it is closer to home than the hospital was and she stays only a couple of hours twice a day to visit. I go before or after work, depending on my schedule. It has made for some long days this last week. My dog has has to endure this as well, given I'm gone for up to 14 hours at a time and he is stuck inside. I'm so glad is about over with. I don't like where he is. The corridors smell of urine and feces, Clorox and staleness. I pass the same rooms everyday, and see the same people, just sitting there. No visitors. Just sitting or sleeping or laying in the bed. It's the saddest place I've ever been. I feel for them. If any of them happen to look away from the ceiling, wall or TV, I smile at them. The first couple of days, their expressions never changed. Now, a few will sort of smile back. The few that can leave their rooms on the own power that I meet in the hall will even wave a little or say "Hi". One thing is sure, my father will not go back there again. I don't like him being there, any more than he does, but for different reasons. It is a place of forgotten people. The lonely and dying left to wait for the Grim Reaper. Hospice will take over when he is released and back home. That is a much better place to be while he waits.