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Many baby boomers, who make up the largest segment of the population, are entering their 50s and have parents in their 70s and 80s. They find themselves acting as their par- ent's parent. It's an increasingly common role reversal that Harriet Sarnoff Schiff addresses in her latest book, How Did I Become My Par- ent's Parent? has the highest population of peo- ple over 65. As a frequent commentator and lecturer on mourning and ag- ing issues, Mrs. Schiffs style has been to engage the reader in a conversation rather than in any formal analysis. As a result, How that resound with practical ad- vice about coming to grips with a parent's diminishing capacities. "A lot of people are writing about aging from the standpoint of getting older," she said. "I wanted to write a people book about 'adult children." In finding a kinder, gentler way to explore the parent-child relationship, Mrs. Schiff coined be transformed into a broader "I-low to" story about children who go through the parenting role-re- versal. While the book doesn't claim to offer answers for handling es- calating health-care costs, it does focus on communication. "People will discuss their stock portfolios and their options be- fore they'll talk about what will happen if their parent gets ill," she said. "It's important to take stronger positions when you see your parent's health start to change." In her book, Mrs. Schiff offers specific, practical steps to en- hance better communications be- tween a parent and a "chadult." "We need to feel that taking her own term for the "adult chil- dren" oxymoron: "chadult." Her exposure to the dilemmas facing "chadults" began when she served as the corporate admis- sions coordinator for a group of nursing homes. At the time, Mrs. Schiff had reached a "burnout" level as a bereavement expert and welcomed the career change. After running support groups at the nursing homes, she soon had practical understanding of the issues facing many older adults and their adult children. A former reporter for The Detroit News, Mrs. Schiff soon figured the material and stories collect- ed from the support groups could care of our parents is a time to reciprocate with love — a time to heal wounds and for some, to for- give." Instead of thinking of taking care of a parent as a financial and emotional burden, Mrs. Schiff suggests changing `burden" to "responsibility." "Look in the mirror, 'she chal- lenges the reader. "Examine what you think truly matters." Quite often, parents are un- comfortable with the role rever- sal. "Have a family meeting and invite an objective source, a so- cial worker or someone else, just so there's a serious airing of the issues," she said. ❑ Did I Become My Parent's Par- ent? focuses on real-life stories Harriet Sarnoff Schiff has built a reputation as an expert on bereavement and aging issues. RE-FINISH YOUR OLD WOOD FLOORS LIKE NEW! SPECIAL PRICE $ 2 19 SQ. Fr. Sand, Stain, Finish With 2 Coats BonaTech Mega. STANDARD COLORS Free 3rd coat not included. Our craftsmen take great pride in the quality of their work- manship. A pride that assures the hardwood flooring you choose is the very best you can buy, and your home main- tains a very beautiful and natural look for many years to come. C/3 LU Cr) LU CC LU LU Floor Covering Pt-us, Inc. 2258 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 1 block East of Telegraph, North of Square Lake Road 64 (810) 332-9430 Mon. & Wed. 9-7, Tue., Thur. & Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-3 * previous orders excluded Mrs. Schiff, a Birmingham res- ident, wrote the groundbreaking work The Bereaved Parent after the death of her 10-year-old child, and followed up with Living Through Mourning. Her latest work takes a broad view of the challenges facing adult children as they assume a new role. Providing emotional, physical and financial support to an el- derly parent may be a common custom in other cultures, but in the United States, the expecta- tions are far from clear. Clear or not, the situation is quickly reality to an overwhelm- ing segment of society. After In- dia and China, the United States <