After more than 30 years of living away from Macon, Mo., and traveling the world, Jan Barton, 61, moved back into her childhood bedroom to take care of her 90-year-old mother, K. Purviance Ladd. The former Homecoming Queen and Ms. Missouri finalist was planning to move to Africa until “Mama K” started showing signs of Alzheimer's. Now, Barton prepares meals for her mother, cleans her laundry, does her house work and gardening, takes care of her bills and banking, and feeds their two cats and a dog. “God has a plan for me, but I still don't know what that is,” Barton explains. “Maybe Macon is my Africa.”

Barton also volunteers with the United Trinity Church and the Macon Food Pantry. “I feel guilty,” she says about leaving her mother at home alone while she works in the community. “Sometimes I feel frustrated and angry. This isn't what I thought I'd be doing with my life.” This week Barton will visit the Macon Health Center and Loch Haven Nursing Home to learn what kind of day programs and long-term care facilities might be available for her mother.

Jan Barton, 61, turns on the lights in her mother's bedroom and tries to wake her up. “I put some new clothes in the bathroom for you. They're hanging on the door.” However, K. Purviance Ladd, 90, puts on the same pants and sweater for the third day in a row.