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Terry left his job in London and moved to Monmouth to care for his 92-year-old father.
According to research from a charity, more than 600 people leave their jobs every day because of their care requirements.
Pressures to care for an elderly, ill or disabled parent have forced nearly half a million people to leave their jobs in the UK in the past two years, says Carers UK.
The report calls for more flexibility in the workplace for caregivers.
Helen Walker, head of the badociation, says 15% of the workforce is "working and taking care of themselves".
The report estimates that nearly five million people are trying to reconcile their family responsibilities and work compared to about three million in 2011.
An aging population has pushed this increase – but the report indicates that not enough employers offer flexibility in terms of working time or leave.
"Not a penny to spend"
Carers UK is claiming employment rights to formally recognize the needs of carers, for example by offering five to ten days of paid leave a year.
These people at work are usually over the age of 45 and the report indicates that their caregiving responsibilities "often go unnoticed".
Terry, who left his position as director of the London Child Care Hospital to move to Monmouth to care for his father, is one of the people who left their jobs.
Aged 92, he lived alone after the death of Terry's mother and began to "fight the daily chores".
For Terry, it meant moving from a well-paying job to relying on the carer's allowance and accepting that he "no longer has a penny less".
The report follows a warning from the National Statistics Office about the growing number of people who not only have to look after an elderly parent, but also look after their children.
There are 1.3 million such "sandwiches" in mid-life, says the ONS, many feeling ignored and underrated.
More than 25% of these people suffer from depression or stress, according to the ONS.
Carers UK states that there is a "real social and economic imperative" for workplaces to become "user-friendly".
"It is increasingly important to improve support for people juggling paid work and caring for a loved one," Walker said.
Does taking care of a member of your family put you under pressure? Please share your experiences. E-mail [email protected].
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