Caregiver decisions are agonizing. Mom died five years ago, and Dad four, but I still second guess myself. Did I make the best decisions for them?

In my case, both of my parents were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease on the same day and declined hand in hand. Mom suffered broken bones and food poisoning while still living in their own home and Dad still believed he was a capable driver.

The picture above of them holding hands in front of their climbing red rose bush, with their clematis vine to the right side, reminds me of the pride they had in their yard and their small  brick ranch home. 

In talking with other caregivers, lingering guilt is a common thread. A loving adult child never wants to shoulder the responsibility of slowly stripping away the independence of parents who gave them everything. 

Even as we try to convince ourselves we did the best we could to make decisions to keep them safe, guilt lingers. 

The only way for me to counter that guilt is to honor them with pleasant memories.