Priorities questioned

Dear editor:
In March of this year, I hospitalized my husband to take a rest and get some things in order–things that were difficult to do when he was at home for, due to this illness, he required constant supervision.
My husband suffers with dementia.
After a two-week period of respite care, it was suggested he remain in the hospital for it would be too much for me to care for him at home. On May 8, my husband left for Thunder Bay, to the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital, where he remains to this day to have his condition reassessed.
I was led to believe he would be there no longer than a couple of months. Every visit with my husband is an eight-hour drive and they are becoming more difficult to make, due to the weather, but he knows and is happy when we are there.
Before hospitalizing him, my husband and I were walking our two dogs twice a day. But after one month, he was restrained in a chair and hasn’t walked without assistance since. It saddens me that he has no choice and that I can’t be near him each day.
Until something like this happens to you, you don’t realize your helplessness and insignificance.
Just recently, he was accepted to the Rainycrest waiting list until my husband’s condition had deteriorated to a point they were unable to meet his needs.
I suffer a lot of guilt for ever hospitalizing him, as I miss him dearly.
This December is our 55th wedding anniversary–the first year that we will be separated and unable to celebrate together. You have to be tough to grow old but never once did we anticipate this dilemma.
Very angered, frustrated, and saddened, but hopeful as well, that maybe in future planning, the health care system can give more thought and take the steps to meet the requirements to care for the elderly in their own community.
As a senior and taxpayer, I question the way our dollars are spent and the priorities of the system.
Thank you for the space.
Sincerely,
Trudy Guimond