Children as carers: an integrative review

Abstract

Objective: to undertake an integrative literature review on the issue of "Children as carers". This is an emerging topic in the provision of health care, but nevertheless has a low profile in the literature. Methodology: this study was based in a survey of nine databases of scientific articles, using as descriptor: child, young, caregivers, lay carer and nursing role, as well as the corresponding terms in Portuguese. 21 articles were analyzed. Results: these were organized into six categories -factors which motivate the child to take on the role of caregiver; these children's characteristics; tasks performed; time spent in caring; consequences of providing care and the role of the nurse in partnership with these children and their families. Conclusion: the children as carers are a focus of attention relevant to nursing practice, this issue representing an opportunity for investigation in Portuguese-speaking countries, as no article was found on the subject in Portuguese. In addition, with this first study in Portuguese, a work of the creation of a bibliography is begun, allowing an awareness of the issue and the identification of ways to respond to the families involved, in line with their needs. artigos. Resultados: foram organizados em seis categorias: fatores que motivam a criança a assumir o papel de cuidadora; caraterísticas dessas crianças; tarefas desempenhadas; tempo passado a cuidar; consequências da prestação de cuidados e papel do enfermeiro em relação a essas crianças e suas famílias. Conclusão: as crianças como cuidadoras são um foco de atenção relevante para a prática de enfermagem, representando esse tema uma oportunidade de investigação nos países de língua portuguesa, já que não foi encontrado qualquer artigo em português sobre o mesmo. Além disso, com este primeiro estudo em língua portuguesa, inicia-se um trabalho de criação bibliográfica que permita a sensibilização para o tema e a identificação das respostas a dar às famílias envolvidas, de acordo com as suas necessidades.Descritores: Crianças; Adolescentes; Cuidadores; Cuidados de Enfermagem. Niños como cuidadores: revisión integrativaObjetivo: realizar una revisión bibliográfica integrativa del tema "Niños como Cuidadores".Se Trata de un tema emergente en la prestación de atenciones de salud, que sin embargo se mantiene poco visible en la literatura. Metodología: se basó en una investigación sobre nueve bases de datos de artículos científicos, utilizándose como descriptores: child, young, caregivers, lay carer y nursing role, así como los correspondientes en portugués. Fueron analizados 21 artículos. Resultados: fueron organizados en seis categorías -factores que motivan el niño a asumir el papel de cuidador; características de esos niños; tareas desempeñadas; tiempo pasado a cuidar; consecuencias de la prestación de atenciones y papel del enfermero junto de esos niños y sus familias. Conclusión: los niños como cuidadores son un foco de atención relevante para la práctica de enfermería, representando ese tema una oportunidad de averiguació...

Young carers: growing up with chronic illness in the family - a systematic review 2007-2017

“…Study findings also confirm that care is provided for chronically ill mothers in the majority of cases [5,15]; the results on this aspect vary between 67 and 75% [12,13,[16][17][18][19][20]. Apart from the mothers, it is often the grandmother who receives care from young carers, followed by chronically ill siblings.…”

“…Worry is omnipresent in their daily lives [28]. They stay in the vicinity of the relative, spend most of their time at home and are prepared to carry out everything necessary to keep the family's daily routine up and running [20,23]. So these children bearing the responsibility of being caregivers have a different kind of relationship with their relatives than their peers who do not have an ill person within their family circle [30].…”

“…So these children bearing the responsibility of being caregivers have a different kind of relationship with their relatives than their peers who do not have an ill person within their family circle [30]. The illness and the changes in circumstances lead to a stronger emotional bond between the members of a family [20]. They have a strong "we-feeling" in the family, are satisfied with the family's team spirit and are able to confront all the demands of everyday life [13].…”

“…They notice this particularly when they accompany their parents outside the home [13,27]. This feeling of shame develops from the fear of being stigmatized [20].…”

“…In addition, young carers emphasize that it would reinforce their own feeling of safety if these caregiving activities were supplemented by flexible, personal and emotional backing and monitoring by the relatives, especially if they are not located in the immediate vicinity of their home. From the children's perspective this would greatly help to reduce stress in the family, avoid conflicts and strengthen the family's solidarity [13,20,27].…”