Today, one in four American families cares for an older relative, friend or neighbor. An estimated 25 percent to 40 percent of women care for both their older relatives and their children. Half of all caregivers also work outside the home. It is no wonder then that caregivers often need help. Depending on your work, living, and family arrangements, there are a number of things you can do to make caregiving easier.

• Work options and on-the-job training programs: If you are a working caregiver, it is important to discuss your needs with your employer. Telecommuting, flex time, job sharing or rearranging your schedule can help to minimize stress. Increasingly, companies are offering resource materials, counseling, and training programs to help caregivers.

• Involving older children: If you have older children living at home, they may be willing to assist your older family member. Such responsibility, provided it is not overly burdensome, can help young people become more empathic, responsible and self-confident and can give you needed support.

• Asking other family members to help: You can and should ask family members to share in caregiving. A family conference can help sort out everyone's tasks and schedules. Friends and neighbors may be willing to provide transportation, respite care, and help with shopping, household chores or repairs.

If you need additional information and assistance in caring for your older relative or friend, you can contact:

• the National Eldercare Locator, funded by the Administration on Aging. Eldercare Locator advisors can direct you to agencies and organizations that can assist you. When calling the Eldercare Locator at (800) 677-1116, please provide the older person's address and ZIP Code.

• The Area Agency on Aging serving your older relative or friend's community can provide information about in-home and community services. Information also is available about benefit and assistance programs for older persons with limited incomes. These include subsidized housing, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid and the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, which covers the cost of the Part A and B insurance premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for low-income older people.

• In addition, the AAA can direct you to senior center and adult day programs. These programs are particularly helpful to working caregivers who want a safe environment with planned activities for their older relative.

• Senior centers serve active older persons and those who have minor problems with mobility and activities of daily living.

• Adult day programs serve older persons with serious mobility limitations, dementia, or medical conditions that require daily attention.

• Many AAAs have a registry of home-care workers from which you can recruit directly as well as information on home-care agencies and volunteer groups that provide help.

• Hospital or nursing home discharge planners also can refer you to home-care agencies and home-care workers.