There are a number of nursing homes here in our country. Some people consider these facilities as a great option for elderly care, while some would rather keep the family together 'till the very end, especially in the province.
Where I grew up, we do not consider bringing our old relatives to a shelter just because we are so fed up with our own life that we can no longer pay attention or take care of them. People in our community place so much value in family, that they'd rather go through all life's difficulties than leaving a family member behind. They wouldn't stop caring for them because there's really no reason for them to get tired of taking care of the very people who took care of them, and who raised them up to be the person they are today.
I have a friend who often gets to visit some of these shelters through their outreach program, and she always tells me that whenever she talks to them, she gets this huge feeling of loneliness from the elders who live in there. Yes, they might not have clear memories, but deep in their hearts, they long for their family. The mind might have forgotten, but the heart surely didn't.