LANTANA, Fla. -- It seems as though more and more children are assuming the role of caregiver as they care for sick parents and grandparents in households across the United States. Children as young as 11 are in charge of responsibilities sometimes even adults find overwhelming. Some of the responsibilities include bathing, feeding, dressing, arranging doctor visits, and giving medications.
Annmarie a 13-year-old who takes care of her sick mother remembers at age 11 feeling "fed up," and thinking "There’s no law says I have to take care of her. Why should I have to do it? Other kids, they could go out and play with friends."
Many are becoming more aware of child caregivers and executive vice president of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Nancy Law says, "This is an issue that's growing." A nationwide study in 2005 found that about 3 percent of households with children 8-18 were child caregivers. Many experts believe that this number will continue to grow in the midst of these tough economic times.
However, there is hope on the horizon. There are programs being created to bring relief to these courageous caregivers like A Caregiving Youth Project. The project's care coordinator Karen Harwood, said, “We can’t change the situation for a lot of kids, but we can help them through it.” Programs like this one allow child caregivers to escape their grown-up responsibilities for a little while and be a kid if only for a weekend.
NY Times article: In Turnabout, Children Take Caregiver Role
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