The tasks of caring for an elderly loved one can add up quickly, leaving you exhausted and stressed out. Chances are, if you've been a caregiver for more than a few weeks you've experienced a certain degree of caregiver burnout.

Most adult children feel some responsibility or duty to take care of aging parents who become physically and/or mentally incapable of looking after themselves. Under state law, this care is considered to be done "for love and affection," and no money changes hands or is expected to do so, unless a personal care agreement is drawn up.

There are also some general guidelines that can help you get a loved one upright—without hurting them or yourself in the process. Keep in mind, these strategies should only be used when you know your loved one hasn't been injured. Published by the Australian Department of Health and Aging, "Don't Fall for It. Falls Can be Prevented! A Guide to Preventing Falls for Older People," offers the following tips for picking a loved one up after they have fallen:

A common question asked by those considering hospice care for a loved one is, ""When is the right time?" A growing number of caregivers are finding that the correct answer to the question is, "As early as possible," as they discover all of the advantages hospice has to offer the patient as well as the caregiver.