What is the answer

my mom tells me that my grandmas’ friends’ mom had Alzheimer’s, only they didn’t have the diagnosis like today.  Back then they still called it old age, senile, something you live with.   My great-grandma was diagnosed with it.  She did OK living at home until she fell and hurt herself.  Falling becomes as issue for most older people in general and even more so for those with Alzheimer's. Once my Great-grandma was in the facility her mind went fast. Same with my grandma, well, both of my grandma's.  My mom’s mom had been in rehab for a broken hip when she started slipping away.  Never made it back home.  My dad’s’ mom got worse once my grandpa died and she had to go into a facility.

It’s a shame, the way we live today makes it difficult to take care of our elderly family. It leaves some having to put their loved ones in a facility, only the facility generally makes the mind worse. My great-aunt had some issues that got really bad when my great-uncle died.  She got to stay in the same place her brother is in for a little while, an assisted living.  Uncle J said they would get together all the time and laugh and talk for hours.  But then she started wandering, looking for home.  She was moved to the Alzheimer floor and got worse after that. 

So what IS the answer??  Staying at home with help or moving in with other family members takes its toll on the help.  Moving them to a facility is costly and often makes the disease progress faster.  Anyone have a solution or a story of success?