My husband had a severe stroke. I went back to work to help pay for his roughly $5,000 a month care costs.

Brenda Eicher-Beard's husband had a stroke in 2023. Courtesy of Brenda Eicher-Beard Brenda Eicher-Beard quit working once her husband had a stroke in 2023. She returned to the workforce after Medicare stopped covering care. She thinks assisted living wouldn't meet his needs, and it's cheaper to care for him at home. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Brenda Eicher-Beard, in her 70s and living in Virginia. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I spent most ...