Above all, parents and adult children must learn to share a mutual affection and respect for each other's individuality as children age. Adult children face the task of becoming independent from their parents, while trying to maintain a close, caring relationship. Adult children must come to terms with the positive and negative feelings they may have about their aging parents. Filial responsibility is the adult child's feeling that they should provide care for their aging parent if the need arises. Children often expect to play a role in the care of their elderly parents.
Children actively monitor their elderly parent's health.
Ultimately, the adult child must gear themselves for the eventual death of their elderly parent. As parents become older and more frail, death becomes a more predictable event. Some adult children may even rehearse what they think their emotions and responses will be. Adult children must face a whole new range of interactions and emotions as they attempt to maintain ties with their elderly parents. There is also little evidence to suggest that adult children become parents to their aging parents.