<strong>Voices</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hidden</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Carers</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Cork</strong>qualitative <strong>and</strong> semi-structured <strong>in</strong>terviews, which were conducted <strong>in</strong> awareness <strong>of</strong> thesensitive nature <strong>of</strong> the material <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>and</strong> the youth <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> the respondents. 5In total n<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>terviews with young carers – compris<strong>in</strong>g five young carers <strong>and</strong> fourformer young carers – were conducted from 2004 onwards <strong>in</strong> <strong>Cork</strong> city <strong>and</strong> county.Two <strong>of</strong> the young carers are sibl<strong>in</strong>gs. The <strong>in</strong>terview sample reflects a range <strong>of</strong> agegroups, with a roughly even balance <strong>of</strong> male <strong>and</strong> female participants (Table 1). Whileno young carers under twelve years <strong>of</strong> age were <strong>in</strong>terviewed, a number <strong>of</strong> theparticipants had been car<strong>in</strong>g from as young as four or five years <strong>of</strong> age.Age Female Male Total12–13 1 1 214–15 0 2 216–17 0 0 018–19 1 0 120s 0 1 130s 1 0 140s 1 0 150s 1 0 1Total 5 4 9Table 1: Interview participants by age <strong>and</strong> genderIn the follow<strong>in</strong>g section the young carers are pr<strong>of</strong>iled <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> who they cared for,the duration <strong>of</strong> the care, <strong>and</strong> the nature <strong>of</strong> the care provided. This is followed by anaccount <strong>of</strong> their views on their car<strong>in</strong>g role, <strong>and</strong> the effects it has had on various aspects<strong>of</strong> their lives.Person Cared for <strong>and</strong> Reason for Car<strong>in</strong>gEight <strong>of</strong> the n<strong>in</strong>e young carers <strong>and</strong> former young carers <strong>in</strong>terviewed were car<strong>in</strong>g fortheir mother. The n<strong>in</strong>th <strong>in</strong>terviewee took over car<strong>in</strong>g for a younger sister when hermother suffered a nervous breakdown. Four <strong>of</strong> the young carers <strong>and</strong> former youngcarers were car<strong>in</strong>g for more than one person. In three <strong>of</strong> these cases, the carer alsotook responsibility for the care <strong>of</strong> a younger sibl<strong>in</strong>g, as their mother was unable to doso. The fourth carer was responsible for car<strong>in</strong>g for three people: her mother, aunt <strong>and</strong>gr<strong>and</strong>father.Length <strong>of</strong> Time Car<strong>in</strong>gA total <strong>of</strong> five young carers began car<strong>in</strong>g under the age <strong>of</strong> ten, four <strong>of</strong> whom begancar<strong>in</strong>g when they were less than six years <strong>of</strong> age. Four young carers <strong>and</strong> former youngcarers began car<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> their teenage years. All those <strong>in</strong>terviewed had been car<strong>in</strong>g for along period <strong>of</strong> time, from a m<strong>in</strong>imum <strong>of</strong> around four years up to over forty years <strong>of</strong>car<strong>in</strong>g. All <strong>in</strong>terviewees were – or had been – car<strong>in</strong>g on a daily basis, although therewas variation <strong>in</strong> the nature <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>tensity <strong>of</strong> the car<strong>in</strong>g.17
YOUTH STUDIES IRELANDNature <strong>and</strong> Extent <strong>of</strong> Car<strong>in</strong>g ResponsibilitiesThe nature <strong>and</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> car<strong>in</strong>g responsibilities varied among the young carers <strong>and</strong>former young carers <strong>in</strong>terviewed. One former young carer was car<strong>in</strong>g for three people –her mother, aunt <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>father – from when she was a toddler. Her mother <strong>and</strong>aunt both suffered from mental illness, while the gr<strong>and</strong>father was elderly <strong>and</strong>physically ill. She cared for all <strong>of</strong> them daily <strong>and</strong> was also <strong>of</strong>ten up at night with them.Her father was present but was work<strong>in</strong>g, so she had primary responsibility for car<strong>in</strong>gfor them. A younger brother was also present but he was not expected to do the car<strong>in</strong>gwork. The car<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>volved personal care (such as dress<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> empty<strong>in</strong>g commodes),housework <strong>and</strong> cook<strong>in</strong>g, as well as the need to constantly watch her aunt who was<strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ed to w<strong>and</strong>er the roads, <strong>and</strong> her mother who was paranoid <strong>and</strong> would keephid<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the house.Another former young carer took care <strong>of</strong> her sister, who has Down’s Syndrome,from when she was n<strong>in</strong>e years old <strong>and</strong> her sister was a baby. Her mother suffered anervous breakdown <strong>and</strong> was unable to care for her. Her father was work<strong>in</strong>g, an oldersister had left the country <strong>and</strong> her brothers played no role <strong>in</strong> car<strong>in</strong>g. Her father diedwhen she was sixteen, leav<strong>in</strong>g her as primary carer. Car<strong>in</strong>g responsibilities <strong>in</strong>cludedpersonal care, cook<strong>in</strong>g, shopp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> housework. She also took care <strong>of</strong> her motherwho was self-neglect<strong>in</strong>g. At a later stage she arranged <strong>and</strong> monitored education <strong>and</strong>rehabilitative care for her sister.Two young carers who are sibl<strong>in</strong>gs provide a great deal <strong>of</strong> physical <strong>and</strong> personal care<strong>in</strong> addition to assist<strong>in</strong>g with housework <strong>and</strong> cook<strong>in</strong>g. This <strong>in</strong>cludes help<strong>in</strong>g their mother<strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> out <strong>of</strong> bed, <strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> out <strong>of</strong> the car, on to <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>f the toilet <strong>and</strong> assist<strong>in</strong>g with dress<strong>in</strong>g.The daughter, on occasion, has had to assist <strong>in</strong> chang<strong>in</strong>g her mother’s catheter.Another young carer takes care <strong>of</strong> her younger sister (six years old) <strong>and</strong> used to alsocare for a younger brother. This <strong>in</strong>volved all the tasks associated with car<strong>in</strong>g for ayoung child as well as try<strong>in</strong>g to make sure her brother went to school. She also has towatch her mother, who suffers from manic depression, <strong>and</strong> ensure that she has notfallen asleep smok<strong>in</strong>g or left all the doors unlocked.The Impact <strong>of</strong> Car<strong>in</strong>g on the Lives <strong>of</strong> <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Carers</strong>The research revealed that <strong>in</strong> a number <strong>of</strong> key aspects <strong>of</strong> their lives the car<strong>in</strong>gresponsibilities carried by young carers were significant, <strong>and</strong> usually negative. The impacts<strong>of</strong> car<strong>in</strong>g at a young age are multidimensional, affect<strong>in</strong>g education, physical <strong>and</strong> mentalhealth, risk <strong>of</strong> poverty, social life, career <strong>and</strong> life chances <strong>and</strong> choices. In the follow<strong>in</strong>gsection <strong>of</strong> the article, a selection <strong>of</strong> experiences are reported which give a voice to theyoung people themselves <strong>and</strong> highlight the effects across a range <strong>of</strong> their life experiences.Feel<strong>in</strong>gs about Car<strong>in</strong>g ResponsibilitiesInterview participants expressed a range <strong>of</strong> emotions <strong>in</strong> relation to their car<strong>in</strong>g role:acceptance, resentment, anger, annoyance, stress, trauma <strong>and</strong> upset. Some felt that car<strong>in</strong>gfor their relative, while difficult, was just someth<strong>in</strong>g one did because <strong>of</strong> family bonds.It’s not all that bad like. The odd time there you’d get fed up <strong>of</strong> it like. But what canI do, it’s my mam. You have to look after her. She does the same for me.18 VOL. 4 NO. 1 SPRING/SUMMER 2009