Presents memoirs written by those who have cared for severely ill and disabled loved ones. Such memoirs reveal multiple meanings--many of them positive--inherent in caregiving, contradicting the professional paradigm that family caregiving equals stress. These memoirs can provide an empathic point of entry for clinicians. (RJM)

Describes parental caregiving among three groups: (1) employed daughters; (2) daughters not employed while caregivers; and (3) daughters who ended employment to continue caregiving. Examines daughters' reactions to caregiving, their involvement with care tasks, and their use of formal and informal assistance. Daughters who terminated employment…

Discusses the role of adult children with serious mental illness as a source of support to their aging parents. Most mothers reported that their mentally-ill children provided at least some ongoing help with daily living tasks. The adult child's assistance related significantly to lower levels of maternal subjective burden. (RJM)