The Pianist's Only Daughter: A Memoir

The Pianist’s Only Daughter is a frank, humorous and poignant memoir that explores aging in an aging expert's own family. Only daughter and geriatric social worker Kathryn Betts Adams brings to life her colorful, emotionally volatile parents, an English teacher/poet and a music professor/concert pianist, from their heady youth through their final years. As they reach old age and need her help, the author struggles with recurring family dynamics and disappointments, along with limitations to the American healthcare system for older adults. Between her mother's decline with Parkinson's disease and her dramatic father's wish to be in charge, managing their care proves challenging despite the author’s social work and aging expertise. In a clear, wry and authentic voice, the author shares intimate details of her parents’ aging, the efforts she makes to help them maintain their unique identities and quality of life, and the mix of resentment, overwhelm and deep empathy she feels for them.