When I began my two decades of elder care, there wasn't much talk about the issue, and what little help was available seemed to be a closely kept secret. Now, caregivers are often faced with the polar opposite. They know there are agencies and businesses that can help them with caregiving issues, but the very abundance of choices can cause a freeze-up in taking action. Where do you start? Or, even harder, where do you start when you are a long-distance caregiver?

One place to start is your...