EP 142 :: Kid Caregivers :: You Are Not Alone :: Hailey Richman

Young caregivers need to know they are not alone. After all, there are an estimated 1.4 million youths between ages 8-19 caring for a family member with dementia. Hailey Richman was one of them. She started Kid Caregivers, an organization which helps young people cope with their situation. It also enlivens the lives of adults living with Alzheimer's. From doing puzzles with seniors or just talking with them, by pairing youth with the dementia community Hailey is helping enhance lives – both young and old.

Hailey is 14 years old and lives on Long Island. She was a caregiver starting at age 4 for her grandmother who died of Alzheimer’s at age 96.

Hailey says, “There are 1.8 million kids in the United States who are acting as caregivers. I want other kids to know that they are not alone; there are many of us out there! I believe that kids need to be recognized as caregivers. I also want to benefit the lives of Alzheimer's patients, with intergenerational programs (Puzzle Time and Creative Arts). My goal is to pair youth with the dementia community to enhance lives.”

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