By Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD

 "I've learned what it must be like to have a baby" a ninth grade honors student living in Delray Beach, FL responded when asked what she has learned from her experiences in caring for her grandmother.  She and her older sister agreed.  

             The sister went on to say she has learned to be responsible.  She knows that her grandmother, who lives with her family, doesn't know when she is hungry and it's time for her to eat; so she keeps track of the time, prepares her grandmother’s meal, and assists her with eating to make sure she gets the nourishment she needs.  Her grandmother is thin and in constant motion as she walks around the locked home, spending much energy and burning many calories.

             Unlike others, these sisters live in a family that has developed their own caregiving team with many family members regularly helping. They have received information and have resources. Yet, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, they say their caregiving life is a seven.

             Other students are doing it alone. They are off the radar screen of health professionals, teachers, and government officials.  They may not be able to remain in school. 

             VHFC formed  the Caregiving Youth Project  in 2005 to raise awareness, to provide education about the issues of child and adolescent caregivers, to conduct research of which there is little in the U.S., and to create direct support services.  Special thanks to Laurie Connors, MSW,  who volunteered for more than a year to help establish the project and secure the initial funding from the Schmidt and Toppel Family Foundations. 

             This academic year is the beginning of the first U.S. Caregiving Youth Pilot Project (CYPP).  The CYPP is working cooperatively with the School District of Palm Beach County.  We started at Boca Middle School with a school wide survey.  Eligible students are now beginning in-school counseling, in-home evaluations, respite, and sponsored activities to return to students a bit of their childhood.  All students are receiving focused education and opportunities for participation in “lunch and learn” programs.  Stay tuned to learn of our CYPP progress!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laurie Connors, MSW, Volunteer and co-developer of the CYPP

Good News

 

‚ Thank you to the City of Boca Raton for awarding Boca Respite Volunteers $5000 to provide and expand our caregiver services in the City.

 

‚ Paula Alderson, VHFC board member and President & CEO of Hospice by the Sea and Rosyln Rudolph, volunteer Congregations in Action coordinator were Soroptimist Women of Distinction nominees this year.

 

‚ Recent Volunteer Education Programs have included information about Diabetes by Carole Kain, MSN, ARNP and Macular Degeneration by Dr. Wolpe of Aker-Kasten.

 

‚ Robin Hardy, VHFC board member and his wife Sally Hardy both long time Boca Respite volunteers have become US Citizens.  Congratulations!

 

‚ We welcome Cynthia Cummings, consultant and Karen Harwood, MSW and Mary Jo Tarrien, RN as new VHFC part time employees.

 

‚ We welcome seminary students from St.Vincent dePaul Seminary  and student volunteers from Lynn University and Florida Atlantic University who are spending time with VHFC programs to learn about volunteering, being a family caregiver and about being homebound so they can become sensitive to life issues in their future career endeavors.

 

‚ VHFC is developing a new Spiritual Care Program for 2007.

 

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VHFC History

       Part III