When Parents Need Care: Who Really Shows Up?

June 11, 2026 - 02:42

UConn sociologist Kim Price-Glynn has spent years studying the organizations that parents rely on when they become the ones in need of care. Her research raises an uncomfortable question: for all the celebration of mothers and fathers, who actually steps in when parents can no longer care for themselves?

Price-Glynn's work examines the gap between the cultural ideal of the selfless parent and the reality of aging or ill parents who require assistance. She found that the burden often falls on adult daughters, paid caregivers, and underfunded social service agencies. The institutions that are supposed to help, such as nursing homes, home health agencies, and hospice programs, frequently operate with limited resources and high staff turnover.

The sociologist points out that society loves to honor parents with cards, flowers, and brunches on designated holidays. But when those same parents need daily help with bathing, meals, or medication management, the support system frays. Many families discover that the safety net has holes. Adult children scramble to coordinate care, often sacrificing their own careers and health in the process.

Price-Glynn argues that the disconnect between celebration and actual support reflects deeper cultural contradictions. We praise parents for their sacrifices but provide little structural assistance when they need help in return. The result is a system where love and obligation collide with limited options and exhausted caregivers. Her research suggests that meaningful support for parents would require more than annual tributes. It would demand better funding for long-term care, paid family leave, and recognition that caregiving is not just a private family matter but a public responsibility.