Broken beyond repair

I’m reading a book right now that as would happen the grandfather has dementia.   I didn’t pick the book knowing this and at times it is hard to read.   

The part I just read equates to the granddaughter seeing her grandfather “well groomed but waiting till he is broken beyond repair”.   This caught me and my heart stopped.   

When do we ever have the right to say someone is broken beyond repair.   Joe is declining, failing but at the heart of him, he is the man who loves and wants to protect his family.   I make a cup of tea and he comes to see if I need help.   I empty the dishwasher and he wants to know if I need help.   I roll over at night and he asks if I’m okay.    Each time I tell him that I’m good.   I roll my eyes and just want him to stop hovering all while on some level knowing where it comes from.   

But “broken beyond repair” seems incredibly harsh.   This is a disease none of us asked for.   This is a beast stealing him away.   He is slipping away from us through no fault of his own.   “Broken beyond repair” just seems too harsh to comprehend.