HOW ADULT CHILDREN RESPOND TO ROLE TRANSITIONS IN THE LIVES OF THEIR AGING PARENTS

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Abstract
This study explored ways adult children respond to role transitions in the lives of their aging parents and the preferences of these adult children for educational activities that would enhance their abilities to respond to future parental transitions. The sample consisted of 29 adult children who were working full time outside the home and had identified themselves as responsible for the current or future care of at least one parent 65 years or older who was still living independently in the community. Data were obtained from personal interviews conducted by the researcher using a semistructured interview guide with closed and open‐ended questions. The adult children identified several significant parental role transitions: divorce, grandparenthood, retirement, and widowhood. In order to enhance their abilities to handle future transitions in the lives of their aging parents, these adult children identified the need for information in three content areas: communication skills, normal and abnormal aging, and available community resources. Also, they clearly preferred obtaining information in ways that would fit into their busy schedules, including regular meetings of professional organizations and social service clubs, journals and magazines, and public television and radio.