With more people living into their 80's and 90's, these women are
   finding that the responsibility of caring for a frail parent or
   parent-in-law can last more than a decade.

   While some men provide the primary care to their parents, the usual
   pattern is that sons offer financial help while daughters or
   daughters-in-law do the hands-on care.

   ''And it's going to be primarily women for a long time,'' said Elaine
--
   ''With many more very old people, and fewer children per family, almost
   every woman is going to have to take care of an aging parent or
   parent-in-law,'' she said.

   To do that, many switch to part-time jobs, pass up promotions or quit