To the Editor: Last week, my grandfather passed away from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). He was 100 years old, lying in his own bed, peaceful and pain free, his beloved daughter by his side. It was a good death. And yet, it adds to my sadness as I think of all the patients I have cared for who were not so fortunate. My grandfather was a 5′3″ giant among men, with striking blue eyes that sparkled with love, wisdom, and always hid a hint of sadness. A survivor of the Holocaust and then of the Communist regime in Romania, he moved to New York at the age of 44 years with nothing but his family, his faith, and an unrelenting dedication to hard work, education, and charity. He leaves behind a loving extended family, every one of whom is fully aware that all our success is owed to the unwavering strength, love, and generosity of our grandparents. Many deserve credit for allowing my grandfather to remain at home. First and foremost, his dedicated daughter, my aunt, who knew no sacrifice too big and left no stone unturned to ensure her father was comfortable and impeccably cared for. There were the skilled and kind home health aides, who helped to feed him, wash him, turn him, and kept his skin in perfect condition. And, there was his exceptional geriatric physician, who treated him with compassion and respect, filled out endless amounts of paperwork to ensure he had all the services he needed, and engaged the family in difficult conversations about end of life and goals of care—so that no decisions had to be made in the panic of impending death. But all this occurred despite our current healthcare system, not because of it. It took financial and social means, as well as intricate knowledge of how to work around a system that is not designed to care for people in their own homes, nor to reimburse the physicians who facilitate it. These failures have never been more evident than at this time, as older patients lie alone in hospital rooms while helpless families grieve at home. The COVID-19 pandemic, with all of its tragedy, has given us the opportunity to grow as a healthcare system. It has shifted the focus to the need for better patient home-care services and has, temporarily, eased the regulations that surround them. But the real tragedy would be if we did not learn from today's lessons, if we did not make these changes permanent. The legacy of my grandfather was one of perseverance and rebuilding after catastrophe. As he and so many of his generation succumb to this pandemic, let us remember the lessons of their lives. The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose. The author is solely responsible for the content. There are no sponsors.