My great-aunt has been in an assisted-living facility in Colombia for many years now. Her children put her there because the did not want to deal with her, but the problem is that they weren't. We were. She was living with my grandmother in her house, with my cousins, uncle, aunt, a maid, and the rest of us visiting frequently. Her children decided that they wanted their mother closer to them, so they moved her to the assisted living facility near their house. The day they moved her out of my grandma's house was the last time the two sisters saw each other. The worst part? They don't even visit her. She is currently living her worst fear.
My aunt is a very proud woman and her life has been filled with tragedy and loss. Her husband and youngest son were kidnapped and killed, her daughter refuses to speak to her, and her remaining son barely speaks to her. This woman went from the penthouse apartment to depending on an allowance from her children, and having her children steal from her. She moved in with her sister, my grandma, so she wouldn't have to be dependent on her children anymore. When she was there, they had the most fun! They would dress up and play with all of us grandkids, have daily prayer groups, go visit friends, reminisce about their youth, and just keep each other in good spirits. When she was moved out, both of them started to decline in health, my grandmother more so than her. Within two years, my grandmother was not the same person she once was. She was hopelessly forgetful, refused to go out, she was just plain depressed. Her sister still has her wits about her, but her depression has intensified.
A few years later, their brother died and they declined even more. My grandmother refused to leave the house, then her chair. At one point, she refused to walk anymore. We asked the doctor if anything was wrong, but he said that she can walk, she just doesn't want to. Soon after she couldn't do anything for herself. She couldn't walk, change positions in her chair, eat, even go to the bathroom alone. In the final few weeks, she refused to even speak. On October 25, 2018, my grandmother died. On that day, we all swore never to tell her sister. Her health has been declining quickly in the passed few years and whenever you speak to her or ask her questions, she cries. Honestly, I believe that she already knows, but no one can bring themselves to tell her. I know that once she gets confirmation that her sister is gone, she'll want to go after her.
