The number of elderly spouses becoming caregivers has increased over the past decade. People are living longer. During my years having worked in the acute-care setting, many of the elderly patients under my care had elderly spouses and no immediate family. I never considered the seriousness of the situation until my second look, and the | The number of elderly spouses becoming caregivers has increased over the past decade. People are living longer. During my years having worked in the acute-care setting, many of the elderly patients under my care had elderly spouses and no immediate family. I never considered the seriousness of the situation until my second look, and the