My Mom and The "Big A"

I'm going to see Mom today. She has been in Bethany Home's Memory Unit for a couple of weeks now. She's doing quite well according to the nice folks that run the place. Everytime I've visited with her, she seems to be "at home." It's sort of pathetic in that she doesn't really remember much about "home." She remembers things from her youth like crazy. She regales them with tales of Germany, traveling via ship, her Father, and when Art and I were kids. Her memory of recent events is mostly gone. She tells and re-tells stories. She asks and re-asks questions repeatedly. She still knows who I am, and speaks about those closest to her quite familiarly when reminded of others. She gets a nice warm smile when speaking of Art, Edith, Curt, Casey, Cookie, Kathy, Michael, and the great grandchildren. She speaks fondly of Loretta, my soon-to-be ex-wife. (I don't bother telling her we're divorced/ing.)
When her memory is jogged she seems to know it all. (But, she doesn't really.)
She's still witty and outgoing. She has lots of room to move about. The staff has stimulating projects for her. She's won a bingo, (which she denies,) reminisces, and visits with the staff. (She's still not too sure about those other Alzheimers patients.) She has unlimited snacks, (24 hours) lots of people looking out for her. They treat her royally. But, "pathetic" still says it. And, it costs about $4200 a month to keep her there. She has enough money to last about four months, barring a turn for the worse, health-wise. I have to visit with Cass County Social Services about getting set up to care for her when the money runs out. Sad that everything Dad worked for is being poured down the funnel of state-sponosred well-being. But, that's the road most of us will tread, unless we're fortunate enough to have hundreds-of-thousands of dollars at our access. (I won't.)
I remember how tough it was when my former father-in-law was in such a unit. His family was nearby all the time and he did OK. However, such a person as he,(and my mom,) are trapped with no place go..and little inclination to go anywhere. Sigh...my heart is heavy way too much. Mostly, I think, because of the helplessness I feel in really being able to do anything about her condition. I manage to spend quite a bit of time in denial, but usually slip back into reality upon each visit with her.