This paper compares the effects of parent-care associated with three living arrangements of elderly widowed mothers who were being helped by married daughters: elderly mother living separately; two-generation households (mothers, daughters, sons-in-law); and three-generation households (grandchildren present). Daughters whose mothers lived separately fared the best; their mothers were the most cognitively and functionally capable and the daughters reported the fewest negative effects of caregiving. Daughters in two-generation households provided the most care; their mothers were the oldest and most impaired. Since daughters in three-generation households reported more negative mental and emotional effects of care, the unique problems of caregiving in such households are discussed.