Explain how the father/son roles had been reversed in the case of Elie and his father?

In Chapter Eight, Elie has to search for his father and take care of him, as he is sick and feverish. As he becomes weaker, Elie finds a way to get his father to the doctor. He has to bribe men from beating his father, he gives him water when he shouldn't, and he waits. His father dies the next day.