A personal account describes how long-term care expenses can delay retirement for working relatives. Kim Berling, 66, who lives in Dallas, balances her job with caregiving responsibilities for her 99-year-old mother-in-law. She says she and her family pay roughly $11,000 per month for care, with the costs requiring ongoing financial support. Berling also notes that at ages 66 and 72, she and her spouse cannot retire as planned because they still need to help cover her mother-in-law’s care. The report portrays the care costs as recurring and substantial, affecting day-to-day budgeting as well as longer-term financial planning. While the account focuses on one family’s situation, it highlights the broader impact that expensive long-term care can have on household finances, employment decisions, and retirement timelines. The information comes from the family’s reported experience and is not presented as a general estimate for all households.