I raised 3 kids. At 70, caring for my 102-year-old mom feels like having a newborn again.

After retiring, Barbara Marcanti now cares for her 102-year-old mom.

Barbara Marcanti Barbara Marcanti cares for her 102-year-old mother full-time.

Marcanti's mom moved to live with her, avoiding costly caregiver expenses.

Marcanti has tried to preserve her mom's independence, though there have been sacrifices.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Barbara Marcanti who is caring for her 102-year-old mother.

Marcanti said she has no regrets about how she's approached caregiving, though she said the work has weighed her down.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I was a mom to three children.

I was a licensed medical professional , starting as a nurse before transitioning to the business side of medical devices and reimbursement.

My parents were married in 1950, and I'm the third of six children.

My father was a blue-collar worker who did heating and air conditioning repair, and he died in 1994.

My mom was a homemaker and later went back to work full-time as a bookkeeper at Walgreens.

She retired at 67, then went out on the road.

She took care of my brother until he died in his mid-50s.