Lesson 1: Understanding Young Caregivers

Imagine a family-support worker at your organization sitting down with a mother who is managing a chronic illness. During the visit, the worker notices her 14-year-old daughter reminding her mom to take her medication, helping a younger sibling and translating a form.

When asked about it, the daughter simply says she is “just helping out.”

Could this young person be a young caregiver? Why might her caregiving role have gone unrecognized? And how could your organization respond? In this lesson, you’ll build a foundation for understanding who young caregivers are, what caregiving can look like and how the role can shape their everyday lives. You’ll also explore why young caregiving may remain hidden or unrecognized and how organizations can create opportunities for recognition and connection to support.

Lesson 1 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to:

  • Define what a young caregiver is and describe the different ways they may provide care and support.
  • Describe what we know about young caregiving in Canada and the different circumstances that can lead to a caregiving role.
  • Recognize the benefits and challenges of young caregiving and factors that can influence caregiver burden.
  • Identify barriers that can contribute to young caregivers remaining hidden or unrecognized.
  • Apply practical approaches to recognizing young caregiving and connecting young caregivers and families with support.