Mary Vinson, 84, left, and her husband, Russell Vinson, 87, start the day in their side-by-side recliners as their daughter, Becky Parker, 57, takes on household chores during the morning shift taking care of her parents. Although Mary Vinson is not as mobile as she used to be, she frequently keeps tabs on the family throughout the day from her chair with the help of an iPad and a phone. “Believe me, she is still running the chicken coop here,” said daughter Shelly Baro, 64. Mary and Russell’s children work in shifts to provide their care.

Shelly Baro, 64, left, helps her mother, Mary Vinson, 84, get ready for bed at Vinson’s home. Baro says that the ongoing care is difficult, but she is happy that she and her siblings can take care of their parents in their home. “This is home cooking health care,” she said.

Shelly Baro, 64, works in her parent’s kitchen. Baro is taking the morning shift, which is often busy because it includes checking her parents’ vital signs, cooking breakfast, watering the plants and making the bed. “We all have our jobs,” she said.

Russell Vinson, 87, goes through his morning routine at his home. Vinson, who gets help with his other medical needs from his children, said he likes to keep an eye on one section of the local newspaper. “I check the obituaries to see if my name is in there,” he jokes.

Julie Wiskur, 59, left, escorts her mother, Mary Vinson, 84, back to the car after stopping at Bothwell Regional Health Center for a shot and a blood draw. Wiskur said she keeps her phone on constantly in case she is called to be there for her parents. “It’s just what you do,” she said. “Do I complain sometimes? Yes. Is it inconvenient sometimes? Yes. She’s my mom. I’d do it anytime.”

Sisters Julie Wiskur, 59, left, and Shelly Baro, 64, help their mother, Mary Vinson, 84, get back into the car after a visit to Bothwell Regional Health Center. Problems with mobility have become an increasing safety issue for Vinson. “Lately I’ve been having a lot of problems getting around…I don’t move fast enough for the motion detector to go off,” she jokes.

Mary Vinson, 84, left, inches her way towards the bathroom as her daughter, Becky Parker, 57, lends a hand with the early shift duties. Parker says that sometimes it is “scary” when her parents are in her care because she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt while she’s there. “This is when she makes me so nervous. I don’t want anything to happen on my watch,” Parker says.

Shelly Baro, 64, left, smoothes out some rough areas on the toes and toenails of her mother, Mary Vinson, 84, at Vinson’s home. Baro, who is using her first year of retirement to help out her parents more around the house, was on the night shift. “You’re getting a little close there,” Vinson warns Baro.

Mary Vinson, 84, left, tries to get comfortable as her daughter, Shelly Baro, 64, tucks her into bed. Vinson said she doesn’t feel like a burden unless she has to ask specifically for help. “Whenever I holler, they come,” she says.

After getting her mom and dad settled for the night, Shelly Baro, 64, heads out the back door to care for her own family. In addition to her parents, she also has four children and one grandkid to look after. “I’m glad I’m not an only child,” she says.