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Hi Maryanne... I don't think that you should jump to the conclusion that your father will be restrained and ignored in a nursing home. My mother has been in two nursing homes during the past year .......we moved her from Indiana to Minnesota where she would be closer to my sister (I was in process of moving from Nebraska to California and back during this time for my husband's sabbatical). My Mother has had several strokes plus dementia (Alzheimer's??) She was wandering when we first had her in the nursing home in Indiana, but she was given a bracelet that set off the door alarms, so that they knew when she walked out the door.) After several falls, she is now restricted to wheelchair use....she will not attempt to stand.......she was falling at home prior to the nursing home, the nursing home is not to be blamed for the falls. In both nursing homes we were able to specify NO RESTRAINTS.......if this is not okayed by the family, restraints cannot be used.......and this includes lap pillows that would keep someone from getting out of a wheelchair unasssisted. Although we were not pleased with the nursing home in Indiana......the one in Minnesota is 10,000 times better.....in neither home was she ignored. She was warm, dry, good diet...soft food because of chewing difficulty... , she chose not to eat. Nursing homes are not the warehouses that we chose to label them in all instances. Assistance is available to save the stress of caregivers. I will probably spend my last months in a nursing home as a Parkinson's patient. My sister has set up physical therapy programs in many nursing homes in Olmstead Co. Minnesota for the Mayo Clinic......the staff can be caring. Many patients complain about loss of freedom in a nursing home but forget that they were often lonely and frightened in their own homes. Had less equipment that would help caregivers to meet their needs.......perhaps you should investigate the nursing homes in your area.....talk with the families of patients........talk with the staff.....hang out in the hallways and listen to daily activity around you. Rita Weeks 54/9