Caring for the Baby Boomers is getting really, really expensive for individual families —in time and stress …

“On top of this, there’s a shortage of paid home health aides. Last week, the Obama administration joined labor groups calling for the creation of 2 million more jobs in home health care, plus a new visa for immigrants willing to enter the field.

Mintz has grappled with the problem in caring for her husband, who has multiple sclerosis. Earlier this year, she had trouble finding someone to change his catheter twice a week while she was at work. So she says she resorted to something a little crazy.

“With Steven’s permission, I actually put a note on the neighborhood Listserv,” she says.

Sure enough, a man who works from home said he’d be willing to try it. He’s been doing it ever since — for free.

Mintz says we need to expand our definition of “family.” Next year, she plans to launch a recruitment drive to match those in need with volunteers.

“It might be, ‘I can drive her to PT for the next five Thursdays,’ or ‘I can bring meals for the next six months,’ ” Mintz says.

In other words, create a community of caregivers — an old idea for a new age.”