Now the God of Israel was proclaiming to the people that God s way was not the way of the heathen. The children of Israel had a responsibility to care for their aging parents. Yet, even today, daughters and sons seeking to care for their aging parents know that it is not an easy task. There is no simple way to help parents, no simple solution to the demands of caring for the aged. Many adult children experience role changes in caring for their parents.
Parents become dependent on the care of their adult children.
This includes help with homemaking, transportation, personal management, finances, and companionship. It may involve a great deal of dependency, both practical and emotional, but it does not involve parenting. For your parent, it is dehumanizing to be treated or spoken to as a child. Your parent may have reverted to childish ways, but that does not make your parent a child. Even in the case of the mentally-impaired elder or the parent with Alzheimer's Disease, parenting is neither required nor possible.