Life is hard enough, trying to balance a job, a family, children, school or any other combinations of life's challenges. Add the care of an elderly parent into the mix, and many people will find themselves at the end of their rope.

The over-simplistic suggestion is for people in these situations to take breaks for themselves for a little relaxation and downtime. While that is a fine suggestion, the real world seldom allows for it.

It's a difficult job even when things are going smoothly. Trying to manage all the things in your life plus possibly round-the-clock care for senior is very hard and can feel like its pulling you in many directions.

According to the National Alliance of Caregivers, and the American Association of Retired People, the average person who is caring for elderly parents is a 46-year old female who also works a full-time job and has a family with children. So if this sounds like your situation, you are certainly not alone.

Indeed, the U.S Department of Labor says that 30% of all working employees are providing care for a senior parent and they expect that to soon rise to 54%. More than 14 million people are in the same boat as you are. And two-thirds of these people find that there is frequent conflict between their care-giving roles and work.

Ways to Cope

One of the best ways to take the load off is to ask for help. It doesn't have to be professional help, though that is always another option. If nothing else, talk to the other members in your family and let them know of your stress. Ask that they respect your time and not ask anything more of you than what is necessary.

Let your spouse know how you are feeling, keep them informed of your decisions and ask for help when you need it. A resentful husband or wife will only make the situation worse. The same goes for children, especially older children. If the senior parents are living with you, encourage them to interact with your children but also teach kids to respect the privacy and limitations of the older parents.

Though your employer isn't likely going to be quite as flexible about your time as a spouse, it can still pay to discuss the situation with them. Perhaps some work can be done from home, or you may be able to adjust your shifts to suit your other obligations better. You won't know until you ask.

Overall, you need to keep a balance between your care-giving responsibilities and the rest of your life. Take care not to let your elderly parents become your sole focus in life.