I’ve spent 20 years caring for 5 loved ones. At 54, I feel like I’m still waiting for my own life to begin.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Laura Lee Ehrlich, 54, who lives on Long Island. Ehrlich has cared for five older loved ones over the last two decades and gave up her job to be a more present caregiver. It’s come at a cost to her savings and emotional well-being . This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I’m the youngest of five siblings. My mom held numerous jobs when we were little, and my dad worked in the city. When he worked strange hours, my older brother was the man of the house.

My mom, who worked for a surgeon, got me a job with his practice, where I worked for 17 years. My sister and I worked for…

Read the full article at BUSINESSINSIDER.COM