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Young Carers.....we see you

 

Guest Author: Ian Hill

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A Dad's View of 15q Idic 15

Today is #YoungCarersActionDay and we give a nod to our amazing kids who go above and beyond each day. A post from my blog to acknowledge them......

 

The past twelve months or so have been anything but normal, families have been kept apart, routines and everyday activities have gone out of the window and those with a family member who is disabled or requires additional care have seen their support packages and interventions ripped apart. With those changes, the often hidden, but quite remarkable young carers have seen their lives impacted in ways that can be difficult to fathom.

Without the ability to leave the home environment to go to school, to mix freely with friends and to de-stress, young carers have seen an increased burden both psychologically and physically through lack of support and through increased caring hours, a recent survey of young carers from the Carers Trust found that 40% of young carers and 59% of young adult carers say their mental health has worsened during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Other stark statistics include 66% of young carers and 74% of young adult carers feeling more stressed and 69% of both age groups feeling less connected to others since the crisis started, statistics showing how some of the most vulnerable have been impacted by Coronavirus.

This feeling of isolation and increased stress at a time where support and the opportunity to escape and recharge can only be detrimental to some of the most vulnerable kids in society, we have done our best to ensure that the caring burden has not increased on our daughters and that they have had the space and freedom to hideaway where needed. However, for all our efforts, we know that the altered dynamic has seen them more at hand and on standby than would be normal, that they are in need of a break and be back at school, to do normal tween / teenage things and they long for the freedom to socialise freely once more.

From our perspective, we have managed the situation the best we can, limiting their input and responsibility as much as possible, at times this has slipped, last summer for example when I suffered a trapped nerve in my neck and causing debilitating pain radiating down my arm, my own ability to care for our son became significantly diminished at a time when my wife was also suffering from chronic pain related to a slipped disc, our daughters through their own choice stepped up temporarily to be more helpful than ever. This was only temporary but it made the lack of support available during this time stark and worrying, the Coronavirus pandemic has left so many families with young carers exposed and vulnerable.

Other young carers do not have this option, this is their norm, teenagers carrying out extensive caring duties every day for a parent or sibling or both, often hidden behind the closed doors of home, flying under the radar and hidden further by the cloak of Coronavirus. The stress which young carers must feel is difficult to comprehend, many take it in their stride with a shrug of their shoulders and just carry on, some just see it is as everyday and do not consider themselves to be carers, I know our daughters play down their valuable contribution, yet, it should not be diminished and the support for them should be readily available, because we see how difficult being a young carer can be.

To our daughters……..When we ask you to grab your brother to save him from danger at home because you are closest, we see you. When we ask you to help at bath time, we see you. When we ask for help for the umpteenth time today, we see you. Those spontaneous cuddles you give him, we see you. When you reluctantly but willingly give up your Nintendo Switch so he can play his favourite game, we see you. When you give up your snacks that he demands from you, we see you. When you involve him in a game, play hide and seek and make him squeal and giggle with delight, we see you. When you teach him how to use his AAC talker, we see you. When you treat him just as your little brother, we love that and we see you. When you show your fierce side and defend him, we see you. When it gets too much and you become frustrated or you feel lonely and isolated, we see you and we will do all we can to let give you space and be kids again.

We see all of those things and more, we cherish your input and your efforts, words cannot do justice to what you do as young carers and how you have become strong, caring and thoughtful young women, young women we are immensely proud of.

To all of you young carers out there, we see you, but we know some are invisible, be visible, be proud of what you do, because you are all remarkable.

#YoungCarersActionDay #youngcarer #COVID19 #coronavirus #disabilityawareness #Disability #siblings #siblingslove

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