circleWhen most people in the United States think of childhood and adolescence, they think of a carefree period in life with few major responsibilities. But for some young people, this time also means caring for loved ones. Harvard Medical School students Kimia Heydari and Romila Santora, who both have firsthand experience as young caregivers, write about this often overlooked group in their First Opinion essay, “Caring for a Hidden Population: Young Caregivers.”
Heydari and Santora spoke to “First Opinion Podcast” host Pat Skerrett about the unique challenges of caring for a family member at an age when few people their age have had a similar experience. “It was really shocking to me that there wasn’t a social structure that formally recognized this experience,” said Heydari, who helped care for her twin brother who has autism.
This can be especially difficult for students who must balance work and school schedules and demands with responsibilities at home. Heydari and Santora suggest how schools, health care systems, and society at large can make small changes to better support young caregivers.
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