Navigating Late-Life Parental Care Transitions: Implications for Adult Children’s Psychosocial Well-Being

Background and Objectives Seventy percent of adults aged 65 and older experience late-life care transitions, often due to health decline, requiring increasing support for daily activities. Adult children typically assist their aging parents through these transitions: managing chores, health needs, and long-term care (LTC) entry if necessary. While psychological impacts on caregivers and care recipients are well-documented, the broader effects on adult children’s well-being are less studied. Research Design and Methods This study used data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2018) to examine associations between late-life parental care transitions and psychosocial well-being of middle-aged children. Baseline sample included 4,961 respondents (average age 55) with at least one living parent. Well-being was assessed by changes in distress (the Composite International Diagnostic Interview) and one-item life satisfaction. Weighted generalized-logit models estimated the odds of parental transitions; average changes in well-being by parental care transitions were examined using Marginal Structural Framework. Results Most respondents reported their parents living in the community; 21% had parents with at least one LTC transition. Those with parents entering or living in LTC were generally older, non-Hispanic White, better educated, and had parents with cognitive decline. When parents aged in the community, adult children experienced lower distress (-0.11, 95% CI: -0.17, -0.05) and higher life satisfaction (0.04, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.08); LTC transitions showed mixed evidence of worsening outcomes. Discussion and Implications Community aging remains prevalent and positively associated with children’s well-being, however disparities in access and support for those seeking LTC options requires further research.