WHO ARE YOUNG CAREGIVERS?
Imagine a child, teenager, or a young adult stepping up to help a family member who needs them. This is a Young Caregiver, and they take on diverse responsibilities, including personal care, sibling care, financial support, and even emotional support.
For example, a Young Caregiver might be caring for a parent with depression, cancer, or multiple sclerosis, lending a hand to a sibling with autism or Down syndrome, or supporting a grandparent experiencing dementia or mobility challenges.
While their efforts save the health care system significant money, Young Caregivers are often hidden and their support comes at a cost, leading to what’s termed the “Young Carer Penalty.” This can negatively impact their academic performance, social development, and overall well-being.
Despite their crucial contributions, Canada lags behind other countries in providing specific, systemic support for these individuals. Recognizing and supporting Young Caregivers is vital to mitigate these negative impacts and promote their resilience, well-being, and future success.
1.25 million
According to the 2012 General Social Survey (GSS), an estimated 1.25 million Young Caregivers aged 15 to 24 reside in Canada, not including Northern Territories.
14-27 Hours
On average, Canadian Young Caregivers dedicate between 14 and 27 hours of care per week, equivalent to a part-time job (Chalmers, 2008, 2017; Stamatopoulos, 2018).
$25,000- $50,000
The unpaid care provided by Young Caregivers results in an annual saving of $25,000–$50,000 for their families or the healthcare system (Chalmers, 2017).
Investing in support for Young Caregivers can prevent future social, psychological, and economic challenges these youth might face throughout their lives (Stamatopoulos, 2018).
What We Know
Although Young Caregivers play very important roles in their families, they often grow up quickly and can feel as though they lost their childhood. Their added responsibilities can create a lot of big feelings like loneliness, sadness, anger, frustration and feeling different. These feelings, along with the lack of recognition and support, can lead to anxiety and symptoms of depression.
Young Caregivers demonstrate many strengths and skills that they gain through their caregiving roles. We always say that so many of the Young Caregivers we work with are wise beyond their years as they have had to handle many life experiences. Their care allows loved ones to remain at home and helps the success of the family.
Young Caregivers report that they feel unrecognized by professionals (i.e., health care, teachers, social workers, homecare workers) and therefore, go unidentified and unsupported, putting their wellbeing at risk. Young Caregivers are shown to be held back from pursuing professional and academic opportunities; employment is a challenge because of the on-call nature of their caregiving and due to the responsibilities at home. Education is affected by lack of sleep and concentration, truancy, and a lack of time for homework and studying (Lakman, Chalmers & Sexton, 2017; Stamatopoulos, 2018).
International Young Caregiver research highlights how caregiving youth have relatively high levels of unemployment, lower rates of labour force participation, and higher rates of government support (Stamatopoulos, 2018). Young Caregivers are a hidden and at-risk population that must be recognized.
When compared to non-caregiving peers, research reveals that Young Caregivers are at greater risk of:
Increased Stress
High levels of loneliness
Depressive symptoms
High Levels of isolation
Low Self-Esteem
Difficulty relating to peers
High Anxiety Levels
Less opportunity for physical activity
The Upsides To Caring
Young Caregivers also speak of the upsides to caring. Although times can be very stressful and there are big feelings that can come along with the role, caregiving is reported to bring out many positive outcomes.
What we know is that when Young Caregivers go unsupported, the negative outcomes outweigh the positives. Supporting Young Caregivers will enable them to continue to care for their loved ones at home while potentially reducing hospital visits, home care needs, and delaying long-term care admission, resulting in a meaningful, long-lasting impact for society as a whole.
The Lived Experience of Young Caregivers
Young Caregivers, while playing incredibly vital roles within their families, often experience a rapid maturation that can make them feel like they’ve lost their childhood. The weight of their responsibilities can lead to a range of intense emotions, including loneliness, sadness, anger, frustration, and a sense of being different. Compounding these feelings, a lack of recognition and support can contribute to anxiety and symptoms of depression.
Despite these challenges, young caregivers frequently develop remarkable strengths and skills. They often demonstrate a wisdom beyond their years, a direct result of navigating complex life experiences. Their dedication enables loved ones to remain at home and contributes significantly to family stability.
However, many young caregivers report feeling unrecognized by professionals such as healthcare providers, teachers, social workers, and homecare staff. This lack of acknowledgment means they often remain unidentified and unsupported, putting their well-being at risk. Consequently, young caregivers can be held back from pursuing academic and professional opportunities. Employment becomes a challenge due to the constant, on-call nature of their caregiving, while education is impacted by sleep deprivation, difficulty concentrating, truancy, and insufficient time for homework and studying (Lakman, Chalmers & Sexton, 2017; Stamatopoulos, 2018). International research further shows that caregiving youth face higher rates of unemployment, lower labor force participation, and increased reliance on government support (Stamatopoulos, 2018).
Ultimately, Young Caregivers are a hidden and at-risk population who urgently need recognition and support.
Young Caregiver Stories
Aline, Age 9, Caring for her Brother
“Young Caregivers Association® helps me a lot. It has taught me how to deal with stressful situations.”
Ava, Age 11, Caring for her Grandmother
“I felt alone before I knew that there were other Young Caregivers out there.”
Callum, Age 6, Caring for his Mother and Brother
“I don’t like it when my mom is sad. It makes me sad.”
Chrissy, Parent to Young Caregivers
“Going to Powerhouse empowered my kids and helped them become independent and caring human beings.”
Dylan, Age 10, Caring for his Mother
“I want all other young caregivers to know about Powerhouse because it will change their lives as it changed mine.”
Karaleigh, Age 11, Caring for her Mother and Brother
“Taking care of myself is important, because if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t take care of anyone else.”
Lyndzey, Former Young Caregiver
“I would love for every single Young Caregiver to be seen and understood.”
Nina, Age 12, Caring for her Family
“It can be frustrating and overwhelming being a young caregiver.”
Pearce, Age 13, Caring for his Mother
“Sometimes we talk about being a Young Caregiver, but most of the time we try just to have fun. I really like going there.”
Rachel, Age 13, Caring for her Brother
“Powerhouse gives me a break from everything going on at home and it teaches me different strategies to deal with stress and get a break when I’m home.”
Tatianah, Age 12, Cared for her Father
“It’s really good to be around other Young Caregivers, because I know that they’ve been through something tough too.”
Tony, Age 11, Caring for his Mother
“It makes me feel amazing when I can help my mom.”
Xavier, Age 13, Caring for his Brother
“Having someone in my life with special needs has opened my eyes and appreciate people who are not “normal” and how they see the world.”