Young carers

You’re special. If you’re caring for someone with cancer, you’re doing an amazing thing.

Caring can:

• Bring your family closer together
• Make you realise what’s important in life
• Help you to develop all kinds of skills and strengths

Young carers are children, teens and young adults aged under 25 who help to support a family member or friend with cancer.

Caring can be difficult

Helping to look after someone with cancer can also be a big challenge for anyone. If you’re a young carer, it can be even harder.

• It can be hard work. Being a carer may mean you have a lot of extra jobs and responsibilities. For example, you may have to do a lot of cooking or cleaning, or give nursing care.
• It can make school or college more difficult. You may be tired from caring, worried or feeling emotional, which can make it harder to get to classes or lectures, concentrate or find time for homework or assignments.
• It can affect your performance at work. You may be too tired or worried to perform at your best, or you may miss work or find it hard to get into work on time.
• You may feel left out or frustrated. You may not be able to go out with your friends as much as you’d like, or you may feel that they don’t understand what you’re going through.
• You may have a lot of stress. You may be worried about your loved one’s health or feel overwhelmed by your caring responsibilities. It may be hard for you to relax.
• You may be confused. There can be a lot to learn about illness, medication and caring when someone has cancer. It can be hard to make sense of medical language, hospitals and the health system.
• You may feel down or overwhelmed by your feelings. When someone close to you is unwell it can bring up a lot of strong emotions. And being a carer, too, can be difficult emotionally.

Getting help and support

You are probably very busy if you’re a carer, but it’s worth taking a bit of time to find out what kind of help and support may be available in your area.

Using whatever help is there can make things easier for you. For example, you may be able to get:

• Some help at home, so there’s less for you to do.
• A break from your caring.
• Extra time to do your school work or college assignments.
• Information on managing money.
• Advice about benefits you may be entitled to, including carer allowances and study grants/bursaries.
• Support with finding a job or managing your work and caring.
• Counselling to help you cope with your feelings and manage better.

For information on where to get help and support

• Family Carers Ireland has a dedicated Young Carer Support Manager who you can contact in confidence. To make contact or find out more, call Family Carers Ireland's Careline on Freephone 1800 24 07 24 or email youngcarers@familycarers.ie
• Ask your teacher or another trusted adult to help you to find out about any services that can help you.
• If you’re in college, make contact with the Access Service for social, academic and financial support.
• You can also call our cancer nurses on Freephone 1800 200 700 or email supportline@irishcancer.ie.
   

Talking about your feelings

Talking about how you’re feeling – with a friend or family member, or someone like a counsellor – can be a great relief and may help you to feel better.

You could also make contact with other young carers – people going through a similar experience who understand how you feel. You could make contact online or through support organisations or support groups.

For information on counselling

• Visit https://familycarers.ie/carer-supports/young-carers  to see what’s available. Or call Family Carers Ireland's Careline on Freephone 1800 24 07 24.
• Contact our Support Line for more information on free counselling at local cancer support centres. Call 1800 200 700, or email the nurses at supportline@irishcancer.ie
• Ask to talk to the school guidance counsellor.
• Meet regularly with the student counsellor/access service if you’re in college.

Family Carers Ireland Young Carers

https://www.familycarers.ie/carer-supports/young-carers has lots information and advice for young carers. 

Family Carers Ireland can help you with:

• Information and advice. For example, handling stress and managing school
• An assessment of your needs and a personal care plan
• Peer mentoring (help from other young people)
• Respite activity breaks
• School supports
• Young carers’ groups
• Help with getting support and services
• Counselling
• Training

To contact Family Carers Ireland's Young Carers Service, call Freephone 1800 24 07 24.

Irish Cancer Society Cancer Nurses

You can talk to one of our cancer nurses in confidence if you have any worries or questions or if you need help getting support. You can call us on Freephone 1800 200 700, or email us on supportline@irishcancer.ie.

There are also Daffodil Centres in some hospitals, where you can talk to a cancer nurse about anything at all, or pick up booklets with information about cancer. For more information or to find out the location of your nearest Daffodil Centre, email daffodilcentreinfo@irishcancer.ie

Caring for someone with cancer booklet

We have more information on caring for someone with cancer. We also have a booklet. If you would like a free copy of Caring for someone with cancer, call in to a Daffodil Centre or call our Support Line on 1800 200 700.