When Kids Become Caregivers

So much attention is given to the plight of baby boomers and others caring for the elderly and sick that we forget that there is a small population of young people who are facing the same challenges.

The Washington Post did a story about teen caregivers last year and a study that was done on the effects of caregiving. 1.4 million children in the United States from age 8-18 care for a chronically ill or disabled relative, according to the National Alliance of Caregiving and the United Hospital Fund in a 2005 survey.

Burden and Responsibility

Teens face the challenges that many of us do. They provide companionship, do errands, change diapers, fill medicines, balance checkbooks, change feeding tubes, etc. However, they are faced with additional challenges that makes this especially heartbreaking.

Emotional and Physical Toll

People forget that although teens are not children, they are not adults either. They are still learning on how to deal with their emotions and how to make the right judgments. Not only are they faced with adult responsibilities, but adult stress. Some of the effects include:

• Mood swings and antisocial behavior
• Missed School or after school activity to help a relative
• stress, isolation and fear

Few Resources

Many of the programs available are focused on adults. Few programs are available to address this special population. Of those that do, few people take advantage of that either because they do not know about it or they do not think they will receive the help they need. Some teens may not seek outside help because they fear that they will be taken away from their families or that they will be accused or scrutinized about abuse or neglect of their family member.

There are programs in countries like England, however. Young caregivers are acknowledged by law and there are resources available to them. About 300 organizations help about 30,000 youths with counseling, social activities and homework.

How to Address the Problem

It looks like this is a problem that will need to be addressed in the near future. According to, Carol Levine, director of the families and health-care project at the New York-based United Hospital Fund. “In general, the answer is not to take them out of the family, but to provide support for the family and for them.”

Read more about the Washington Post’s article on Teen Caregiving.

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