Young people & Carers: Young People & Carers overview
Other sections within this area:
Caring for your child
Young people will have particular challenges whilst suffering from PoTS: you may feel like you’re supposed to be getting on with your life like everyone around you, but it’s just not that easy!
Being a parent is never an easy task, but supporting a child with PoTS (no matter what their age) can be especially difficult. Read some top tips created by a group of parents who have experience of helping their children along their PoTS journey.
Support for Parents/Carers
The following websites offer support and advice for parents/carers:
https://www.specialneedsjungle.com
https://councilfordisabledchildren.org.uk
Being a young carer
Young Carers
A young carer is someone under the age of 18 who looks after a family member or friend who has a physical or mental health condition, or misuses drugs or alcohol, who cannot cope without their support.
If you are under 18 and helping someone with PoTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) — it may be a parent, sibling or other family member then you are a young carer.
You may do extra jobs in and around the home, such as cooking, cleaning or helping someone get dressed and move around. You may also help organise the family members appointments, medical treatment and medication, and you may give a lot of physical help to a parent or sibling who’s disabled or ill. Along with doing practical things to help your parent or sibling, you may be giving them and your parents emotional support, too.
Being a young carer can impact the young person’s own life such as education, socialising, mental health and well-being.
There is help and support for young carers:
If you or your parents request it, your local council must organise a young carer’s assessment: https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/support-and-benefits-for-carers/being-a-young-carer-your-rights/
You can also find out more about being a young carer and what support is available at the following websites:
https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-support/young-carers