Caregiving youth

Three graduating high school seniors from Boca Raton, Florida, are the first national recipients of a new scholarship honoring caregiving youth.

From the Boca Raton News: Scholarships given to caregiving HS students

These stories represent examples of the 1.4 million children who are young caregivers and the thousands of young caregivers who live in Palm Beach County. Young Caregivers in the U.S. is the first national report about children-18 years of age and under who are caring for a family member. The majority (72 percent) assist a parent or grandparent, the report said.

The American Association of Caregiving Youth has an interesting website. While I have not read everything there, I am impressed with what I have read so far.

My children all assumed various roles at different times for the care of my father and mother, and I am very proud of them for doing so.

Twenty Million Adults in the U.S. Care for Elderly Parents

A generation of caregivers

This article by Darran Simon in the Miami Herald goes on to state:

"About 80 percent of long-term care is given at home by a family member, according to the Family Caregiver Alliance."

As well it should be!

And...

The new caregiver role is forcing some adults to move closer to their parents.

I wish we had never moved so far away from our parents to begin with! Mr. Latin has the right attitude:

''It's something I didn't think twice about,'' said Otis J. Latin Sr., who recently resigned after nine years as Fort Lauderdale fire chief to return to Texas to care for his mother, Effie Williams, 78, who has Alzheimer's disease.

Latin, 58, took a job as director of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in Austin. This summer, he and his wife, Gloria, plan to move Williams into the home they are building in Austin. ''My mother has sacrificed for me all my life,'' he said.

Psalm 71:9

"Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone." Psalm 71:9