For me, I know that I have a future beyond dementia caregiving for my husband. I know that grief never ends and we are foolish to think that we will ever have "closure". I am still mourning my parents though they have been gone for many years. Now I am able to acknowledge that it is there and tolerate it better. I remind myself that they had long full lives and were both ready to die at the end. Our society does not tolerate old age and the illness and frailness that inevitably comes with that part of life. The American culture generally does not treasure our elders or look to them for wisdom and advice. This is especially the case with dementia patients who are no longer able to give us the benefit of their life experience. It generally does not accept that we are all mortal and will die at some point. Just about everything we see or hear is about not getting or looking old. As a society we need to acknowledge the fact that we are all mortal and the need for societal support at the end of every life and the need for support for those of us that are doing the bulk of the caregiving. Sadly this does not seem to be among the priorities of our country right now.