We moved our 3 aging parents into 2 tiny homes in our yard for $100k. It made caregiving possible.

Linda Barton's parents have adjusted to life in their tiny home.

Linda Barton Linda Barton and her husband moved their parents into tiny homes to manage their elder care.

Balancing full-time jobs with long-term care, Barton navigates financial and healthcare challenges.

Linda faces choosing between funding her retirement and paying for caregivers for her older parents.

This as-told-to interview is based on a conversation with Linda Barton, 55, who lives in Texas with her husband and works in criminal justice for the courts.

They moved their three living parents into tiny homes in their yard to afford their care and manage their full-time work schedules.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I was clueless and in my 40s when this journey began.

I think most people are like me.

I'm always throwing out ideas to people to help them navigate these years of their lives.

My parents were older when they had me, and I'm 18 and 16 years younger than my older brothers, both of whom died by the time I was 20.

My dad died when I was 30, and they were married for 52 years.

My mom worked in accounting, and my dad was a truck driver and construction worker .

Are you paying for your own or your loved one's long-term care? Have you considered alternative housing options for your family? To share your story with a reporter, please fill out this quick form .