Last year I had to return to Belgium, where I grew up for the most part, to say my goodbyes to my grandfather. He had been diagnosed with mesothelioma and decided at his age he had lived a good life and was opting for euthanasia. I'm pretty Americanized at this point, and being away from the openess of this option made it quite tough - even though I have been pro giving people this option. While not a direct correlation to a nursing home, he didn't want to spend the last of his life in a hospital bed, receiving treatment - instead he opted to use the good time he still had and spent it with the family, and even went on a cruise to Norway that he and my grandmother had wanted to go on since when they first got married but never had the opportunity to go.

I think part of the mentality is that he got to go out on his own terms, with a sound mind, and knowing he had taken care of everything he wanted to - and living in a home is a burden and not a pleasant way to spend the remainder of your days, wondering who will visit you and when.