Regardless of whether you end up caregiving for a few months or a few years there are some ways to help you build your resilience and help you with staying as strong as possible and well-organized. Of course, some depend on your age, resources and the amount of help you have but hopefully, regardless of your circumstances we hope there’s be a few things in this article that you can take away.
As a young person providing care, there are considerable and varied responsibilities. It might be a sibling with Autism or Down Syndrome that you support. You could also be living with or providing full or part-time care for a parent or grandparent living with physical limitations like Multiple Sclerosis or Dementia for example.
You may not have realized but as a young caregiver, your health, ability to complete your education and gain part time work experience maybe unfairly compromised. Your family caregiving role may also affect your development on a social, personal, physical and emotional level.
Research tells us that many young people do not feel comfortable disclosing the fact that they are caregivers to their friends and classmates—so it’s a secret that they have difficult or demanding care responsibilities at home. This means often skipping social activities, break times and time with friends as well as struggling with financial issues, anxiety and additional stressors.
While there aren’t any simple, or immediate solutions, in many cases, here are some thoughts and suggestions that may make your daily life a little easier as you find your way forward on your caregiving journey:
1) Being organized
2) Understanding and clarifying your role
3) Learning about person centred care
4) Trying to create a support network for yourself
5) Finding the ‘right information’ with calls and questions
6) Upskilling yourself and your family for day-to-day home safety
7) Using technology when you can
8) Sourcing funding and community supports
9) Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask for help.
An uncertain future is often in the cards which can be both de-moralizing and confusing when you are dealing with an older adult’s or sibling’s needs on your own. Here are some resources that might be helpful as well.
Caregiver Club
Powerhouse… an evidence- based program delivered in schools and in the community of Niagara and Haldimand Norfolk that has been developed by the Young Caregivers Association that offers the opportunity for caregiving kids and their families to come together and find ways to self-care.
Powerhouse programs offer summer camps, weekly respite, life skills, counselling, teen and young adult supports. Participants report life looking brighter, less lonely, less anxiety and stress, and feeling closer to their families.
Photo: Atlantic Ambience, Pexels
