Not a lot of people can afford to quit their job and stay home so Mom - who needs 24-hour care - can come and live with them. So, people go to work with half of their brain on their job, and the other half on what to do with Mom while she recovers from her hip surgery.

The last segment of the Indystar.com article is the saddest. A man had to put his father in a nursing home, as he'd used up his options for caring for him at home. A nursing home is not necessarily a bad option, when the time is right, but people shouldn't feel they have no other choice, unless they quit their job.

The combination of working at a job to pay the bills, and working at elder care, can indeed feel like both are a burden. Creative solutions and empathetic employers are needed if we are to care for our elders compassionately, while we keep employees productive and sane.

Read Carol's blog - Adult Day Care- The Time Has Come.

For more information about Carol go to www.mindingourelders.com or www.mindingoureldersblogs.com.