Today I read an article in the Minnesota Women's Press about the costs of Long Term Care.  One great point that the article makes follows:

While the emotional and physical burdens of taking care of a loved one are well known, the financial cost of informal caregiving is less frequently discussed. Caregivers may feel guilty complaining about what society has said should be a labor of love. The problem is pervasive and disproportionately affects women, creating a public policy challenge. Females generally have less money and live longer and are more likely than men to be the caregiver-and to need one.

"It is definitely challenging for all caregivers but the responsibility falls disproportionately to women," said Amy Friedrich-Karnik, a spokesperson for Family Caregiver Alliance an organization that addresses the needs of family and friends who provide long-term care at home. "Women tend to suffer financially in their later years because of the financial impact caregiving has had on them."