Issues affecting Young Adult Carers
“AYCPlus gives advice and support. If I need any information on anything I can ask and I know I will get the best help I can”.
Being a carer can have a profound effect on a young person. Having the responsibility of a caring role means that young carers may miss opportunities and choices that other young adults have. Young carers may face difficulties in the following areas:
- Conflict between needs of the cared for and their own needs.
- Lack of recognition, praise or respect.
- Problems with peers (isolation and bullying).
- Lack of time to achieve deadlines (college/university/work).
- Problems juggling education, training, employment and home life.
- Tiredness/difficulty concentrating.
- Lack of time for social activities.
- Enhanced responsibility/expectation from others.
- Missing out on “normal” activities.
- Problems moving into adulthood (finding work, their own home and establishing relationships).
Young adult carers can be a very “hidden” group of young people and their needs and those of the person for whom they are caring are often only identified when there is a crisis. Young carers may choose to remain hidden, by not being open about their home situation, for a number of reasons:
- They may fear the repercussions of being identified or asking for help.
- They may worry that they will not be believed.
- They may worry that important decisions may be taken without their consultation.
- They may not want to be singled out.
- They may fear outside intervention such as younger siblings being put into care.
“I can’t remember anything ever being offered. There simply was no service available”.
Young carer now aged 22 years.
