respite

Being the primary caregiver for an elderly parent can bring untold physical and emotional stress. You can become ill from the combination of mental strain and physical tasks that are never ending. In order to help others, you must first help yourself. Reconciling your goals with realistic expectations can help greatly to minimize that stress. Sometimes, just taking pen to paper and listing all that must be done objectifies the problem, and is a good start. Making it a comprehensive list, including even minimal tasks helps to objectify the problem.