In cases of abuse, it may not be a good idea to do direct caregiving. For women, previously undisclosed sexual abuse is the major pitfall. The parent will not be able to talk to you in a coherent way, so the challenge of working out the past is on the individual. Again, individual and family counseling is needed in these more complicated situations. Even when contribution is spread evenly among all the caregivers, the expectation of women as the primary caregivers or nurturers can still lead to burn-out.
Women tend to be harder on themselves and see flaws and failures in their caregiving.
Women tend to blame themselves more for the inevitable accidents and mishaps that will happen with someone with Alzheimer's. Share experiences with other caregivers. You will find that you are not the only one who's mother walked out the door, or tripped over something. Support groups are great for finding people to share with. They lead to practical tips on caregiving and resources, as much as emotional support.