The caregiver responded that, yes, everything was great...now.  This person (in mid-forties) had been caring for a dependent parent with physical disabilities since early teens-with no knowledge of CICOA and no outside assistance.  Surely decades of caregiving for one's parent-while so young, even to middle age-represents significant losses and challenges.  As it turned out, though, the tears were not about loss, but rather tears of relief that help exists. Now that resources (i.e. the advent of a "caregiver network") were known and accessible, life was about to become better for both parent and caregiver!