My wife was telling me about a coworker whose husband has had alzheimer's for a while, and he had to be put in a home because he was too violent.

It got me thinking whether anyone in their right mind would want to be that kind of a burden to anyone else. I realize that people with alzheimer's are not in their right mind, but I wonder how many people would be willing to say they find the thought appealing. The facts are that when a person comes down with alzheimer's, immediate family members must go to great lengths to provide for their safety and well being. This of course places a huge strain on the people that have to deal with it.

Personally I couldn't bear the thought of being the cause of such a strain to my wife, or anyone I know for that matter. Of course I am in my right mind, and coming down with the disease means, one would assume, that one doesn't have to bear the thought, because they are unaware of the situation.

Which brings to mind another question. Would my wife be able to, there is no other way to put it, kill me if I came down with the disease, if before hand I firmly stated that I wanted her to do so in such a situation? She says no. Although I don't lose sleep over it, it concerns me that there is nothing I could do about it if I were to become afflicted with the disease. I know now that I would not want to be such a burden to anyone, but if I truly lost my mind there would be nothing I could do about it because I wouldn't know what the fuck was going on, and I wouldn't be capable of rectifying the situation myself.

On the other hand, would I want to take care of my wife if it happened to her. I would want to be able to, but I have no idea if I would be physically capable. I know my life would be altered drastically, and I could probably bear it, but I wouldn't want her to have to deal with it. It makes me wonder if there is anyone that could honestly say they would want someone to have to go through with that for them if they became afflicted....