Learning Objective #1: Identify three key issues for older adults who assume responsibility for the care of adult children with mental illness

Learning Objective #2: Describe the complexity of older adults giving care to adult children with mental illness

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The purpose of this research was to discover experiences of older parents who have adult children with mental illness. Although many parents over age 65 provide a life time of care for these adult children, minimal research was found addressing the role of the older adult as caregiver to an adult child. Using a qualitative approach and content analysis, the lived experiences of older parents of adult children with mental illness were examined. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven parents, and a guided discussion with a focus group. Concerns included parents' coping with their own reactions, interacting and assisting adult children, and involvement with other helpers. The main themes that emerged from these three concerns were persevering, accommodating, and admonishing respectively. Preserving involved strategies of self talk such as explaining to themselves the reasons for the adult child's illness. Strategies used countered feelings of guilt and shame, and maintained emotional balance. Accommodating encompassed behaviors found most helpful in interacting with the adult child to prevent loss of the relationship or adverse behaviors e.g. speaking softly to the when the adult child was agitated or providing a place to stay when necessary for safety of the adult child. Admonishing was the response of family, friends, or professionals Parents' accommodations were often labeled enabling by others who advised parents to apply tough-love. Researchers concluded that older parents experienced the stigma of mental illness and found minimal support in their struggle. Despite repeated efforts to access helping agencies, the only on-going support the adult child received was from parents. Parents were committed to supporting the adult child over a life time. All parents expressed desires for different types of support than they had experienced