In Kim Isaacs article titled "Resume Help for the Unemployed", Under the header "Get Busy During Your Unemployment", Kim states that one can include experience in taking care of a parent that is not well.  I have a similar case and I was wondering if there are any complete sample resumes out there that include an example of where to put or place this sort of information in a resume. 

I'll let the Resume expert answer your question, but I think you might be better off explaining your situation in a letter and omit anything about it in your resume. The reason I say that is because it will be easier for you to get interviews if you get yourself judged based mainly on your Capabilities to help the hiring authority and the employer reach their financial goals...as the RESULT of your experience. Unless you have accomplishments that are directly related to the job you apply for, they will probably be viewed as irrelevant - whether you list them on a resume OR in a letter.

I recommend that you write and send a letter directly to the hiring authority and tell him or her about some of your capabilities. You could include something about your background and helping a sick relative, and if you give enough key facts about yourself, you may decide to not include a resume...
unless and until they have expressed interest in you as a potential candidate.

Not the answer I was looking for, but you may be right about the employer not being sympathetic to my past.  Even though it was absolute hell, and I feel that it developed my character far beyond most as the stress levels and decisions were similar to what a soldier goes through in combat for the first time.  I like your idea about packaging my experience in a letter and seeing how the employer responds.

Actually, I didn't say employers won't be sympathetic to your past. What I said is that
they are likely to think that accomplishments are irrelevant if they aren't from a very similar job title and industry as theirs.

That said, I think most employers WOULD be sympathetic to what you did, depending on how you explain it. I don't know enough about you to advise you any further about how to explain it so it's seen in the most favorable light to you, nor do I know enough to advise you if you would be better off
waiting until an interview before you bring it up.

And, remember, EXPERIENCE is where you find it. It's the BENEFITS, ADVANTAGES, AND CAPABILITIES you have gained as the RESULT of your experience that, if marketed effectively, can help you get your foot in the door.

Thank you for the explanation, I found the last paragraph inspiring and I do believe my experience will make an impact on the employer.  The only thing is I'm not sure how to write the letter.  Do you have any links to sample letters that I could use as a template? 

Hi thrdshft3r,

I hope your parent is feeling better!

CareerKeysMan gave you great advice, especially regarding the importance of including benefits and capabilities on your resume.

Regarding your time off, the longer you are out of work, the more important it is to include some kind of explanation for your current and recent activities. The cover letter isn't always read and many employers will check out the resume first, so you can include a *brief* blurb there.

The issue of caring for an ill parent came up recently on this forum - here's the link to the thread:
Caregiver Post