...Your friend may have turned down your invitations, but don’t drop her from your list. She still needs to know that people care. It may be that her situation is so emotionally and physically overwhelming that she has no more to give. So pay it forward. Your reward will be that you helped someone you care for.

View the slideshow on HealthCentral to learn more about how to be a friend to an isolated caregiver:

Carol is the Candid Caregiver

Support a caregiver or jump-start discussion in support groups with real stories - for bulk orders of Minding Our Elders e-mail Carol