When an older family member needs help, many people struggle to find the time to provide assistance to their relative amidst the many other commitments crowding their lives. Often, it is hard to figure out just how much help is really necessary.

A task so simple, mundane -- and essential -- as making a bed for someone who cannot do it themselves strikes me as a great lens through which to view caring for others.

Without all the people who find themselves caring for those with terminal illnesses, our healthcare system would be overwhelmed. Yet we as a society do little to support them. There is much more we can do.

The population in America is shifting as baby boomers age and the "sandwich" generation is feeling more and more pressure to take care of aging parents while raising children at the same time.