Palm Beach County teen among many youth caregivers during coronavirus pandemic

Palm Beach County teen among many youth caregivers

THE PANDEMIC.

WPTV NEWSCHANNFIVE'S TANIA ROGERS HASMORE.."IT REALLY, REALLY DID HURTUS, AND IT IMPACTED US, I CANREALLY SAY THAT I CRIED." A 17YEAR OLD SADDENED THAT HERGRADUATION WON'T BE ATRADITIONAL ONE... AND HAVINGTO DO ONLINE SCHOOLING.CHANGES BECAUSE OF THECOVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BUT WHATHAS BEEN A CONSTANT IN ANGIANAJULCEUS' LIFE IS BEING A YOUCAREGIVER, SINCE SHE WAS 1YEARS OLD.

"BEFORE I WAS CAREGIVING FOR A GRANDMOTHER OFMINE, BUT WE ARE NOTCAREGIVING FOR HER NO MORE."NOW SHE TAKES CARE OF HERBROTHER WHO BROKE HIS ANKLE INA CAR CRASH AND HER MOTHER."MY MOTHER WHO HAS DIABETES.SO WHAT I DO IS I HELP HER OUTIN THE HOUSE A LOT.

I CLEANLOT, I COOK A LOT." ANGIANAGETS SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICASSOCIATION OF CAREGIVINYOUTH... SHE'S AMONG 543 KIDSIN THE PROGRAM IN PALM BEACHCOUNTY.

THE ORGANIZATIONREALIZES WITH SOCIALDISTANCING, PROVIDING RELIEFFOR THESE YOUNG CARE GIVERS ISNECESSARY.

"ONE OF THINGS THATWE HAVE PROVIDED IS RESPITETHROUGH A COUPLE OF HOMEHEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

ACOUPLE OF OUR FAMILIES AREAFRAID SO MUCH FEAR TO HAVESOMEONE COME UP INTO THE HOME.THEY HAVE GIVEN UP THATRESPECT WHICH THEN IT TURNPUTS MORE BURDENRESPONSIBILITY ON THECHILDREN." THE ORGANIZATIONFINDS OTHER WAYS TO PROVIDSOME REST.

"MAYBE NOTEVERYBODY LIKES TO COOK AND SOTHAT'S WHY WE ARE VERYTHANKFUL THESE PAST SATURDAYSWE'VE HAD MEALS DELIVERED TOOVER 100 OF OUR FAMIMEMBERS, SO THAT GIVES THEM AREAL BREAK." COUNSELING ANMENTORING CONTINUES."THANKFULLY WE'VE BEEN ABLE TOPROVIDE ONGOING COUNSELINGTHROUGH TELE HEALTH.

ONE OFOUR PARTNERS HAS PROVIDED THATSERVICE FOR US.

SECURITY ANDCONFIDENTIALITY ARE ALWAYSISSUES THAT WE ARE CONCERNEDABOUT." NEEDS THAT WILL REMAINEVEN AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

"WECERTAINLY WELCOME DONATIONSBECAUSE WE HAD TO CANCEL THREEFUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES.

ALSOVOLUNTEERING." TANIA ROGERS,WPTV, NEWSCHANNEL FIVE.THANKS FOR JOINING US THISHOUR.

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