The Need for Health Systems to Engage With and Support Youth who are Caregivers-A Lived Experience Perspective From Young Carers.

Abstract

Caregivers under the age of 25, or young carers, lack significant recognition and support across sectors of education, employment, and healthcare. As young carer advisors on a prior research project exploring Canadian healthcare providers' awareness of young carers in their clinical practice, we were a part of an experience-based co-design process to create a toolkit for healthcare providers to better recognize, engage with, and support young carers in clinical practice. In the following Patient Perspective, we highlight our individual experiences of interacting with the healthcare system as young carers and propose three key recommendations for healthcare systems to better value and integrate young carers. These include the need to recognize that young people can be carers, the importance of support and resources for carers and care recipients alike, and the importance of accessible and reliable primary care.