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I believe my dad changed a few, but his dad never so much as washed a dish at home, much less changed diapers. Of course, out on the boats, I'm sure he washed a few dishes, but that's different, when you're out with a crew of men.

Don't remind me of what possibly lies in my future about tending to old/terminally ill folks. My mom did it plenty (try being a woman and changing your own father's catheter or being a man and cleaning up your own mother; I believe that tops baby poop any day of the week), as she was a nurse, but now her health is not so good. I think I'm a sissy in that regard...but I guess people do it because it needs doing, not because they enjoy it, so I guess I'm no different from anybody else.

Yep...I changed my dad and bathed him. Once I had to carry him to the car from his room in the back...all 6'5" and 250lbs of him deteriorated badly by a megaglioma star growing in his brain...it about killed both of us.

My Mom is opting for a Ritz Carlton level "home"....funds are already in place. She would never tolerate me "taking care" of her personally. No way. She has too much pride and can afford otherwise.

With my dad, there was no pride factor really. He just took it in stride, He knew the end was coming and never once whined. He handled his own death better than any of us did...especially my mother...whew...I hope not to relive that. Some folks are born care givers and others are not.

He did rather enjoy the baths and rubdowns from the comely young nurses and could recognize and comment on a "nice rack" up until he slipped into the netherworld about 2 weeks before death. And comment he did...lol...brain tumours sort of erase normal inhibitions if you know what I mean.

I know my wife will take care of me...I am certain of that. It's in her genes.

Again...not the stuff for the weak spirited.