(LifeWire) -- After his father was diagnosed with dementia in 1996, Anthony Lazzara Jr. faced a difficult decision: He and his wife, Gail, either could place his father, Anthony Lazzara Sr., in a facility, or they could care for him themselves. Anthony Lazzara Jr. (right) and his wife, Gail (left), cared for Anthony Lazzara Sr. at home for eight years. Unable to afford a care facility, the Lazzaras brought him home. So began eight long years of caring for the World War II veteran and onetime truck driver as he slowly declined -- a burden borne largely by Gail, 56.
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The stress of caring for an elderly parent can overwhelm a relationship
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Couples may have unreasonable expectations of what they can or should do
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More than 44 million Americans care for an adult family member or friend
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Almost 80 percent of these are caring for someone older than 50
Although they say their marriage has stabilized since his passing -- @placeholder has been able to devote more time to her job coordinating a local volleyball league -- they admit that it could have crumbled.