Marjorie Baer used to joke about her retirement plans.She wasn't married and had no kids, but she didn't intend to be alone--she and all her single friends would move into a fictional home she called Casa de Biddies.Instead, Baer developed terminal brain cancer when she was 52.But just as she'd hoped, her friends and family provided her with love and care to the end. 

Ballance was only the first of Baer's friends who became her unofficial caregivers.With her brother Phil Baer from Los Angeles, they worked out a system to watch over their friend and allow her to keep some of the privacy and independence she cherished. 

Baer's good friend Ruth Henrich took Baer to doctors' appointments and helped her deal with all the aspects of life --answering machines, TV controls, and even phone numbers.After Henrich sent out an e-mail request, a group of volunteers signed up to ferry Baer back and forth to radiation therapy .Others in Baer's circle offered up particular talents: A nurse friend helped Baer figure out how to get what she was due from Social Security and her disability insurance; a lawyer pal helped Baer with her will; a partner who was an accountant took over her bills when she could no longer manage them."There was this odd sense that the right person always showed up," says Ballance.Their arrangement worked remarkably well. 

Unmarried women are one of the fastest-growing groups in America; experts are concerned about how care-giving will be managed for them as they age.If the experience of Baer's friends is a guide, _ .It's already making it possible to create communities of caregivers who may have only one thing in common: the person who needs their help.On personal "care pages" set up through services such as Lotsa Helping Hands, friends and family members can post a list of tasks that need to be done, volunteer to do them, and keep updated on the person's condition.As Baer's cancer progressed, for example, her friends set up a page on Yahoo! where people could sign up to deliver meals or do errands . 

Catherine Fox, one of the friends who were present when Baer died, was deeply affected."It was so comforting to know that if you're willing to ask for help, the generosity of family and friends can be phenomenal .It makes me feel secure and hopeful to know that help is there when you need it." QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What was Marjorie Baer's age at the time of her cancer diagnosis?
2. When Marjorie Baer got cancer, how old was she?
3. What was Marjorie Baer's age when she contracted cancer?
Q2:
1. What was Marjorie Baer's age at the time of her passing?
2. When Marjorie Baer passed away, how old was she?
3. How old was Marjorie Baer at the time of her passing?
Q3:
1. Did Marjorie Baer's children help her?
2. Was it Marjorie Baer's kids that lent her a hand?
3. Did Marjorie Baer receive help from her own children?
Q4:
1. Who helped Marjorie Baer?
2. Who did Marjorie Baer receive aid from?
3. Who lent Marjorie Baer a hand?
Q5:
1. How is Phil Baer related to Marjorie Baer?
2. What is Phil Baer in Marjorie Baer's life?
3. How does Phil know Marjorie Baer?
Q6:
1. Who took Marjorie Baer to doctor and hospital appointments?
2. How did Marjorie Baer get to doctor and hospital appointments?
3. When Marjorie Baer had a doctor or hospital appointment, who provided her transportation?
Q7:
1. Who took Marjorie Baer to doctor and hospital appointments, besides Ruth Henrich?
2. How did Marjorie Baer get to doctor and hospital appointments, in addition to Ruth Henrich?
3. When Marjorie Baer had a doctor or hospital appointment, who provided her transportation, other than Ruth Henrich?
Q8:
1. Who helped Marjorie Baer with legal issues?
2. When Marjorie Baer had a legal problem, who came to her aid?
3. Who lent Marjorie Baer a hand with any legal issues?
Q9:
1. How did Catherine Fox feel about Marjorie Baer?
2. What did Catherine Fox feel for Marjorie Baer?
3. What was Catherine Fox's role?
Q10:
1. Who helped Marjorie Baer with payments?
2. When Marjorie Baer needed to make a payment, who helped her out?
3. Who came to Marjorie Baer regarding any payments?
