They are very small to drive or vote – but they are taking care of their sick loved ones

In some ways, Najiha Raman is no different from other 17 -year -old children. She sometimes holds runs for the exam. She struggles with some subjects in high school and excel in others.

But in an important aspect, he is quite different from most of his peers. Since she was about seven years old, she was taking care of her mother, who was revealed by ALS when Najiha was three years old.

“Sometimes, I will try to help her with a wheelchair – but it was much bigger than me,” she remembers.

Rahman realized that her responsibilities – as her mother was uncomfortable when she was uncomfortable on drinking water, eating food, her body, was felt before adjusting her age – not quite specific for children for children.

Rahman says that his father and sister tried their best to save him from those responsibilities, but there was a lot to do so that some of it fell on him.

“As I have grown up, and I have talked more with my sister,” she said, “I made such a decision, oh, yes, it’s not normal. I am doing things that I should do, there is a bit beyond that, and I should be proud of myself.”

The most recent data is from 2018

In Canada, about 1.5 million Canadians are taking care of loved ones with long -term health problems between the ages of 15 and 30, according to A 2018 survey Statistics from Canada – The last time the government agency counted.

However, this may not be a complete picture. Not only the figures are old, but also at that time, the agency did not count the carers under the age of 15 years.

Only needs have increased since the container survey – especially after the epidemic, says Vivian Stomatopolos, a sociologist at Ontario Tech University, Research Advocates subjects and carers.

“Many people are not able to receive preventive care, which means more care to provide stage diseases and more care,” he said.

Care stress – At the top of normal stress of adolescence – this means that young carers are more at risk of mental health challenges, such as depression or anxiety, social separation and falling back into school, Experts say,

Stamatopolos says that the number of young carers is expected to increase only as Canada’s population age.

No services with increasing population

As Statistics estimates by canadaBy 2068, more than one of the four will be 65 and older, even with high fertility rates.

But the services available for their care do not speed up. According to data published last month by Canadian Institute of Health Information, Less people are working in long -term care The house pre -epidemic, and the level of staffing continues to decline.

There is also a question of strength: some organizations, such as Canadian Cancer Society, Criticized Canada Caregiver CreditSaying that it does not go far away to help people pay for services outside the hospital.

Stamatopolos says that all this means that the care responsibilities will make the whole family down.

“Due to all this, more young people will be drawn into unpaid care,” he said. “They will not be spared by taking this responsibility.”

But young careers also have unique challenges. Stamatopolos said they are difficult to identify because unlike adult care, they have less probability of peers who have experienced stress and responsibilities of care and are less likely to talk about it openly.

“They are a hidden population.”

Ask the correct question

A Recent case study Published in magazine reviewed by colleague Canadian family doctor It is said that primary care teams should play an active role in recognizing and supporting these youth as part of the treatment of their loved ones.

One of the co-writers of the report, Lucas Perry said, “Careers cannot even know that they are caring unless there are harmful effects for their mental health and well-being.”

Perry has seen it for the first time. At the age of 14, he took care of his grandfather, who was paraplygic and had lung disease.

He said, “I felt that both of them are proud to take care of someone, which I really care. But moreover, I felt quite overwhelmed, because I often remembered school activities,” he said. “I was not really sure what is expected when it comes to his care or progress.”

After his grandfather’s death, Perry started working voluntarily in a subcutaneous care unit. When he realized that there were other people like him – career of all ages. He wants health care workers to ask him and his comrades about his mental health at that time.

“Do you have any problem to go to school in the morning? Do you have any problem when talking about participating in class? Do you feel dry?” Perry said citing questions that would help.

Perry says that he feels that family doctors may ask these questions, and can identify and support young carers, as they often care about many family members and have a bird scene about the patient’s health.

Take care of the correct resources

An internal medical specialist and a physician-scientist of the University Health Network in Toronto. Karen Okrainak feels that this will be a good start.

He said, “(Family doctors) may be more likely to recognize a child who is providing care,” he said, “but I take care that I don’t think the family physicians are the only (…) solutions,” he said.

“All health care providers … can play a role in supporting young carers.”

While treating patients with complex and chronic diseases, Ocarin has often recognized young carers, sometimes young at the age of 10 or 11.

“I have seen some young carefuls just a break down and crying, and share how difficult it is and how did no one really ask them how they were doing.”

Okrainak says that there are resources available to young carers, but health care workers need to be able to identify those who need them.

He made one Tool kit For his colleagues, who in their practice, to identify young carers and include a list of resources around Canada.

Experts say that Canada may also see what other countries are doing to support their young carers.

Local governments in the UK should assess the conditions of young carers to ensure that their responsibilities do not affect their mental health, welfare or school.

“Most importantly, (UK government) also provides them direct payment to children, where these children can either help, use the help provided by the government, or (…), which can use to provide supply,” Stamatopolus said.

This is the kind of resource that can be helpful for carers like 17 -year -old Rahman.

“I don’t think my situation is something that I feel bad. I think my mother is great, and I don’t want people think anything less about my mother,” she said.

“But at the same time, I think you can’t have pity on anyone, but still recognize that their condition is not normal.”