When Your Parent Needs You

Subtitled "A Guide to Positive Growth When Caring for Aging Parents," this absolutely first-rate production offers just that. In other words, rather than focusing on the mechanics of elder care (bathing, feeding, maneuvering, etc.), the well-spoken caregivers and wonderful experts on this tape outline the benefits and pluses that result from parenting your parents. In addition to the potential for developing a new, more intimate, equal and forgiving relationship with someone whom you may have feared or resented in the past, the experience can result in becoming more merciful and patient with people in general, achieving a higher level of maturity through realizing obligations and setting selfish concerns aside, learning to be more assertive with legal and medical bureaucracies, and, finally, coming face to face with mortality. Rather than offering a generous spin on a situation that can and does give rise to guilt, anger, and depression, however, the tape readily admits these downsides and offers coping tips for dealing with stress, isolation, and limitations. Packaged with a nice little resource booklet of suggestions and bibliographical references, this video is highly recommended and an Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (K. Glaser)