Ever since she was nine years old, Hana has been going to the doctor with her father Mohan.  The appointments, however, have been for Hana’s father, not for her.  Mohan has diabetes that is not well controlled, and his English is poor.  Hana is his medical interpreter – quite a heavy load for a child.  Things became even more intense when Mohan had his legs amputated due to complications from the diabetes.  Hana regularly helps her dad attach and remove his prosthetic legs.   Hana is now in her first year of university.  She struggles with balancing her own life and post-secondary studies with the expectation that she is there to help her father and the guilt she feels when she is at school.

Hana is a young carer.  It is estimated that 12 to 28 per cent of Canadian children and youth are young carers.  At the upper end that translates into approximately 1.18 million children and youth. Young carers are defined as children and youth under the age of 25 who provide prolonged “adult-like” care for ill or disabled family members, including those with addictions and mental health issues.  They also provide support during circumstances where parents may be absent or have language barriers.  Experts say there is likely at least one young carer in every classroom in Canada, however they are hard to spot. Young carers are a hidden group – many do not self identify with the role, and others feel the need to keep this aspect of their lives private for fear that others will not understand, or even worse, that they may become forcibly separated from their family.

Young carers support parents, grandparents and/or siblings, and spend on average anywhere from seven to27 hours each week on caring, which is significantly more than the two hours per week their peers are responsible for as they complete their chores.  Young carers take on a wide variety of roles including but not limited to: cleaning; meal preparation; babysitting; intimate and personal care such as assistance with bathing and dressing; emotional and mental support; and helping with medication management.

While young caring has positive aspects such as enhancing family bonds, and resultant increased maturity and independence, caring responsibilities at such a young age can take a toll.  Research shows that young carers often experience mental, emotional, psychological, social, educational, and health-related disadvantages, particularly if they do not receive some support for themselves.   They have higher rates of high school dropout, underachievement in school, are isolated and, in some instances, bullied by peers. Young carers often find it difficult to relate to people of their own age and are less in involved in “age typical” activities.

There are certain factors that increase the likelihood of a child or youth becoming a young carer.  They include:

• Family composition – young carers often come from single parent households and thus have more caring responsibilities than those from dual family households
• Socio-economic status – young carers often live in households with lower incomes. The inability to afford other services makes them more susceptible to assuming the caregiving role themselves
• Lack of availability of other supports such as other family members or friends who could help.

The number of young carers in Canada has increased by 13.5 per cent from 2006 to 2015.  This is due to a variety of factors such as the ageing population, the rise in lone-parent families, and a shrinking pool of potential family caregivers due to women’s increased employment.

There are two excellent programs in Ontario that support young carers.  The Powerhouse Project in the Niagara Region provides workshops, events, drop-in opportunities, respite services,

and a library for young carers and individuals who support young carers. A similar project is run in Toronto by Hospice Toronto.  Programs include sports, group activities, expressive arts, drama, movies, games, field-trips, homework assistance, coping skill development, leadership, cooking and nutrition, and medical education. Both the Powerhouse Project and Hospice Toronto programs help young carers build resilience and self-esteem, and simply give them time to have fun.

Two programs are not enough to reach all the young carers in Ontario.  More needs to be done, and awareness must be raised on how to identify and support young carers.  We can all play a part.  Next time you hear about someone who is ill , look to see if there is a young carer quietly supporting them in the background – and see if you can lend a hand, cook a meal, or simply give them a hug.