Children: Full Time Care Workers

Researchers from Witten/Herdecke University have looked upon how children and teenagers nurse their parents in Germany. First results indicate that these families are in urgent need of help.

15.09.2007

Many older people depend on their
grandchildren's help © pixelio.de

Nursing scientists at the University Witten/Herdecke interviewed more than 80 people in 34 families with one chronically ill family member. Especially children who are nursing relatives in need of care were asked about their situation. The study aims to develop a concept to support these children and their families. There are currently no corresponding initiatives in Germany.

No one knows how many children are nursing in this country. Looking at comparable numbers in the United Kingdom, Germany has still some catching up to do. According to a census in 2001, about 1, 5 percent of all children and adolescents in the UK are looking after relatives in need of care. That are 175 000 young people.

“If we take these numbers as a basis for Germany 225 000 nursing children in this country seem to be a realistic assumption,” says Sabine Metzing, responsible for the study.

Care in this context does not only involve nursing, emotional and physical support, but also house work and babysitting for siblings. “To fill a gap and be on standby” that is how Ms. Metzing describes the children’s strategy. “That goes from assisting to round the clock care.”

In particular the growing amount of responsibility for the caring children was part of the questionings. “It is not imaginable, that a 13 year old might bath his grandmother or a ten year old might take over the household to support her single mother who suffers from MS,” Metzing explains.

Young carers often have to look
after their younger siblings
© pixelio.de

Young carers often take over parental duties from a very young age. The researchers were particularly impressed by one extreme case: a four and a half year old girl whose mother suffers from rheumatic episodes. “The girl does not only care for her mother by giving her something to eat and to drink and helping her to the toilet, she is also looking after her two year old sister,” Metzing reports.

For many of these children with physically or emotionally ill parents, a happy childhood, romping around and free development are nothing but wishful thinking.

There are various reasons why scarcely anybody is aware of the situation of the young carers. “This is a problem of our health system”, Metzing explains “most people, be it GPs or nursing services are looking the other way.” There often exists a lack of time and people don’t realise that besides the sick people there might be a whole family in need of support.

Another aspect is the fear to be stigmatised. “Many children have to run the gauntlet,” says Sabine Metzing. Mobbing in school and social exclusion occur quite often. Therefore, many families don’t talk about their problems.

The nursing scientists discovered a strong company in many of these families. For all of them family is to the fore. However, the parents’ and children’s need to have someone to talk to is immense. “It is the marked wish of these families to live their lives as normal as possible,” Metzing explains, “we are trying to develop a concept to realise that wish.”

The United Kingdom could serve as a role model. There are currently 350 projects in the UK which look after young carers. In Germany there are no comparable projects. “We need contact points for these families,” says Metzing, “at present there are still no sponsors or initiatives.” Together with advice and information centres similar projects are to be initiated in Germany.

REHACARE.de; Source: Private University Witten/Herdecke gGmbH

- For more information about Witten/Herdecke University visit: www.uni-wh.de