Post 1- Children Take on Role of Caregivers

Children Take on Role of Caregivers
LANTANA, Fla. – Throughout the United States, children are recently becoming more of a caregiver rather than the care receiver. Children often younger than 15, are helping take care of their sick parents and grandparents. These responsibilities are often tasks that a parent would do for a child such as dressing, washing, feeding and medicating.
Children may experience a sense of self worth from taking care of their elders or experience depression and low self esteem. Often times school is left behind when a child has to spend a majority of their day helping their family.
Less than 3% of families are living with a child caregiver, but studies suggest that these numbers will rise as long as our country is facing a recession.
There are different organizations that have stepped up to the plate to help these children cope with being a caregiver. The Caregiving Youth Project prides itself on helping children out who may feel lost and depressed due to caring for their sick family member.