Literature provides rich material for moral reflection on messy and weighty issues like the care of aging persons. The researchers explored the portrayal of caring of aging parents in selected works from prose fiction, films, and over-the-top media to understand power differences and complexities within traditional expectations of filial care. There exists a disconnect between what the adult children caregivers believe their parents need and what parents actually need. Some works depict overt discrimination against aging parents who still have a lot of life left in them. One film places a humanoid robot amidst this prickly parent-child space leading to some complex psychological circumstances. Even when there is a strong desire for care, such a disconnect may lead to serious parent-child issues. But sometimes, caregiving can be burdensome when caregivers have to make serious compromises for providing care that includes reinforcement of gendered norms, or meeting social expectations when children are estranged. Aging persons may experience suffering due to a diminishing of self that may even be imposed by others’ perceptions and social norms. Care in response to aging is not a simple phenomenon as caregivers try to negotiate their values, desires, and choices amidst their care roles. Overall, these narratives from prose fiction and media shed light on the multifaceted nature of caregiving, highlighting the importance of empathy, communication, and understanding in navigating the challenges of providing care for aging parents, especially when there are underlying familial tensions or differences in expectations.