Caring for a loved one through illness, especially in their final stages, can be one of the most intense experiences of your life. And when that role suddenly ends with their death, caregivers are left not only to grieve the loss, but to make sense of complex, often conflicting emotions—chief among them, guilt and relief.

Watching a parent’s memory fade can feel like losing them one story at a time. As a psychotherapist who works with seniors and families experiencing the impact of dementia, I walk alongside adult children facing this heartbreaking reality, offering clinical insight, emotional steadiness, and practical strategies from the first unsettling signs through late‑stage care.

For many caregivers, the emotional toll of tending to someone else’s needs can be just as demanding as the physical work. Let’s explore why that guilt shows up, why it's important to challenge it, and how caregivers can begin to take meaningful, restorative breaks—without apology.

Do you feel that your mother or father needs more help than you can provide? As an adult child, do you see what you want to see in relation to your parents' abilities and not wanting to let go of how it used to be? Do you feel you are aware of any decline or changes?