Sarah, I felt like how your feeling now over several times in my life, even when I am turning 35 in October,
I am not always sure what direction to take. Things took (what I thought) a bad turn 5 years ago for me, when my mom announced she did not have enough money to support herself and my brother (unpleasant divorce from my dad, but that is another story for another day). So basically I bought a house and my mom and brother moved in with me. Being as independant as I like to think I was (or am) I was angry and depressed that my mom had moved in with me, when I had spent most of my adolescence trying to get out of the house!
To top it off, I was turning 30, and I had a list of all the things I wanted to get accomplished by the time I was 30 (you know, marry Harrison Ford, win the lottery)
Seriously though, I felt like my life was going backwards instead of moving forward. I was not sure what to do with my career, and I was fat.
But now, 5 years later, I have switched to a better paying job, and have healed the relationship with my mom, so now after all these years, we are now actually friends. My point being (after a very long winded story), is that things will get better, and you will get a better perspective. I think in my mind I had this image of where I wanted to be in certain stages in my life, and when I did not get there, I get depressed and fustrated (and fat). By finally taking control of different aspects of my life, other things began to fall into place. Laura has it bang on, deal with one problem at a time.
Now I am not sure how it works in the States, but in Canada, there are several different assistantance programs for seniors on a fixed income. Some programs will come in and do the housework and errands, other will come and do some maintenance. I am sure there must be programs like that in your area.
Keep your chin up, it will get better!
"Always look on the bright side of life"-Monty Python, Life of Brian