How Do Young Carers Care?

Who do they care for?
It might be a parent, a brother or sister, a grand parent or any other person who lives in the same household as the Young Carer or spends a substantial amount of time there.

Why does that person need care?
It is usually because the person they are looking after has a long term illness or disability. This might be a physical or a learning disability, it could be a mental health issue, a sensory impairment (such as a hearing or sight problem) or possibly a drug or alcohol related illness. Basically any illness or disability that requires a level of care from another person.

It could also be that a young persons parents/guardian; first language is not English. This could mean that the young person is required to communicate for and constantly support their parents/guardians in everyday life.

What do Young Carers do?
All Young Carers are individuals and carry out varying roles that can have a huge impact on their lives. The Young Person could be physically or emotionally caring for that person or both! It could be the emotional care that is harder to deal with than the physical. The constant worrying about another person, not being able to concentrate on anything else (especially school work).

This can also be the most difficult part for professionals, as you can't prevent people from being Young Carers. It wouldn't matter how many people you could get to support around the home with housework, cooking, getting people washed and dressed etc, because at the end of the day that Young Carer will still worry about the person they care for.

In the case where a Young Person is living in a household where their parents/guardians first language is not English, a Young Carer could be providing constant support for them acting as an interpreter. This can possibly lead to Young People being involved in inappropriate discussions regarding their parents/guardians. This situation can be made much worse for a Young Carer if the person they are interpreting for also has an illness or a disability. There will be a greater need for the Young person to be at regular meetings and an abundance of appointments, often at emotional and difficult times and perhaps not fully understanding information being given to them.