- Home
- News
- Media Centre
- Adventure camp for young carers
Adventure camp for young carers |
 |
 |
|
A diagnosis of dementia in a loved one can be devastating to families and particularly young people. And as the number of people diagnosed with younger onset dementia (anyone aged under 65) grows, so to do the number of children affected.
Villa Maria’s Eastern Community Services, in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Australia Vic and the Kids Who Care Foundation, will host an adventure camp during the September school holidays for young people (aged 10 to 17) living in the Eastern region who have a family member with dementia.
Villa Maria’s state wide respite advisor Donna Claridge said the camp, made possible through a Department of Human Services grant, would be focused around having a fun break, trying new things, meeting new friends, and learning something about themselves along the way.
She added young carers were sometimes difficult to reach because they “often do not see themselves as carers so they do not relate to that language, or believe that caring is just what they do or it is a family expectation.”
Alzheimer’s Australia Vic younger onset dementia project officer Sandra Moloney said the impacts on young people who were carers, or had someone in their family with dementia, were varied.
“One of the biggest issues is children becoming limited in participating in sporting activities because of a lack of transport or because the person with dementia is no longer working and doesn’t have funds available to pay for things like that.
“Young children attending school may not have a father or mother who can participate within the school community because of dementia or a young teenager may have demands put on him or her to pick up that caring role because their parent has to care for other siblings.
“In some cases there may be a family business where the children need to contribute to that because of the pressures of diagnosis.”
Ms Moloney said activities such as the adventure camp were “vital” in giving young people the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations, in a fun environment.
“Just having the opportunity to get out of the house and perhaps away from the caring responsibility in a way that’s meaningful for them is fantastic.”
A free information session on the camp will be held on September 7 at the Mulgrave Neighbourhood House, 36 Mackie Rd, Mulgrave from 4-6pm.
RSVP is needed by the end of August. Call Hanna on 9347 2655.
The adventure camp will be held at BayPlay Lodge, Portsea, from September 21-23.
|
VILLA TWEET
Follow the latest Villa Maria tweets.
By A Web Design Company STAY SOCIAL
Join the Villa conversation.
|
 |
