Our parents' generation was raised to think that their children will take care of them in their old age, just as they did so with their parents. But with globalization and immigration, the children started to move away from their country of domicile. The distances that we live with don't make it easy at all.

However, the assisted living facilities are getting the attention of a small faction of this population. The problem is that many of these facilities require for our parents to move far from the area of familiarity. In Chennai, it's in the outskirts of the city making a visit to see a relative or people to visit in the city a whole logistic nightmare.

I also think it may be an easier concept when both parents are still together, so they have each other to care for. It becomes more difficult to send a sole parent there. None of this is easy. I will cross the bridge when I get there.

Maybe your mother will come around and try to convince your father too. Fingers crossed!