We hated having to place my mother-in-law in a nursing home after she lived with us for 18 years BUT we knew she needed the 24 hour care we could not provide (we were still working). We kept telling ourselves it was better & safer for her than staying in our house. However, we continued to have guilt about our decision until she died. We still have the guilt (and I'm not sure if it will ever go away) but we know it was the best decision for her. I was working remotely, so I could visit her at odd hours and the staff at the nursing home didn't know when I would show up (which was sometimes before she woke up and sometimes after she was asleep). some days I would take her out to lunch at her favorite place (hot dog, fries and a milk shake) and we would be gone for over an hour. I still cherish those days.