Dear Annie: My sister, "Rita," lives with my widowed mother. Mom is 73 and in a wheelchair. She has a hard time getting out the front door on her own, so she never goes out without Rita. She won't take the handicapped bus because she thinks it would be too hard and doesn't like to keep to the bus schedule. She won't take her motorized scooter to the library because she's scared the battery will die. Honestly, all I hear from her is "I can't."

Rita works all day, comes home, cleans the mess Mom makes trying to "help," and then follows a detailed list of what Mom thinks she should do. Mom won't let Rita sleep late on weekends and is furious if she spends extra time at the gym instead of at home.

I know Mom is lonely. Her friends have all passed on, the rest of the family lives out of state, and she is in a lot of pain. Mom thinks she is too young to go to a senior center and refuses to call organizations like AARP or get involved in anything. Rita is being run ragged and has no time for herself. I want to help, but I live across the country. What can I do? — Helpless Daughter

Dear Helpless: People move into senior communities in their 50s, so your mother's insistence that she is "too young" is simply her way of keeping Rita at her beck and call. Mom isn't just lonely. She's frightened. And although Rita is being a devoted daughter, her caregiving enables Mom's isolation and dependence. Can Rita drop Mom off at a senior day care center in the morning? Can you hire someone to get Mom out of the house during the day once or twice a week? Would you take Mom to live with you for a month so Rita can get a break? Check out the Family Caregiver Alliance (caregiver.org) at 1-800-445-8106 for information and resources.

Dear Annie: A good friend asked if anyone would be willing to lend their home to host a surprise 30th birthday party for his wife and said he would compensate them. I happily volunteered.

My wife insisted I could not accept any compensation, so I told my friend the party was our gift to his wife. The party turned out great, but this morning my friend stopped by with a thank-you note and a check for $100.

My wife says I can't cash it, it's not proper etiquette, I'm cheap, etc. I say if I made it clear we didn't expect anything, but he still chose to compensate us, we should accept it. I think he'd be offended if we were to give it back. What is proper? — Accused of Being Cheap

Dear Accused: It is OK to accept compensation. However, if your wife disagrees and you think your friend will be offended if you return the check, donate it to charity in the birthday girl's name.

Dear Annie: I read the letter from the woman whose son suffered a head trauma. My sister's daughter also had a brain injury. She was fortunate to have wonderful parents who prayed every day and their prayers were answered. During the last 15 years, my niece has accomplished many things — she drives, works and is raising a child.

The one thing she continues to struggle with is depression, primarily due to loneliness. She is now a single mom with an 18-year-old son. Upon meeting her, you would never know she has a problem. She is an attractive, well-groomed young woman with a great sense of humor. Is there a support group of people in similar situations? — Aunt

Dear Aunt: The Brain Injury Association of America (biausa.org), located at 1608 Spring Hill Rd., Vienna, VA 22182, offers support and resources.

Annie's Snippet for Labor Day (credit David O. McKay): Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, the power to work is a blessing, the love of work is success.

Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie's Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.