Care For Elderly Parents A Concern For Baby Boomers

SAN DIEGO -- Taking a moment from work, Melinda Pelletier drops in on her mother, Lilly, and Deborah Caseras, her mother's caregiver, during her lunch hour.

But before Caseras, Pelletier, like millions of other baby boomers, found herself in a tough spot.

"Back at the end of April she got very ill. She had to be hospitalized six days in the ICU. About 16 days total in the hospital and from there a nursing home," said Pelletier.

Not wanting Lilly to stay in a nursing home, Pelletier moved back home to care for her mother, which created even more anxiety.

"Because I have a demanding job at work and I don't have to worry like I know she wasn't feeling good, is she going to be OK, did she fall …," said Pelletier.

Enter Caseras, a caregiver with Senior Helpers -- a company whose founder had a similar problem.

"Well, I started the business as a result of a personal experience I had with my own grandmother, finding a caregiver for her and I saw how having a caregiver really transformed the life of my grandmother and my mother who had been taking care of her," said Senior Helpers founder David Wallece.

Making light meals, making sure medications are taken and once in a while paying a little attention to Lilly's favorite pet all adds up to being at home instead of a nursing facility.

"It's wonderful. If I didn't have her (Caseras), I couldn't stay in this house," said Lilly.

Experts said there are many companies similar to Senior Helpers, and those looking for one should make sure the company is licensed and bonded as rates are based on patient need and not generally covered by Medicare.