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Young caregivers ‘exist in the shadows,’ offer crucial help

Ronan Kotiya, 11, holds his father Rupesh Kotiya's tracheostomy tube as his mother preparers to clean and change the tube's dressing at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Therapist Sarah Sutton, right, looks on as brothers Ronan Kotiya, 11, left, and Keaton Kotiya, 9, center, laugh during a counseling session in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Caregiving for their father with ALS is a task that children like Ronan and Keaton take seriously and something that their mom hopes will shape them into empathetic, strong young men. But getting there first involves a daily struggle to balance being a kid with living in a very grown-up world. Sutton has seen the boys regularly for a few years. She's been trying to get them to recognize all the emotions hitting them and realize where they are coming from instead of keeping everything bottled up. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Therapist Sarah Sutton, right, listens to an animated Keaton Kotiya, 9, as is brother Ronan Kotiya, 11, sits and listens during a counseling session in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Caregiving for their father with ALS is a task that children like Ronan and Keaton take seriously and something that their mom hopes will shape them into empathetic, strong young men. But getting there first involves a daily struggle to balance being a kid with living in a very grown-up world. Sutton has seen the boys regularly for a few years. She's been trying to get them to recognize all the emotions hitting them and realize where they are coming from instead of keeping everything bottled up. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, left, raises his arms after his toy car won a race with his brother Keaton Kotiya, center, and Alex Oliver during a workshop for young caregivers of ALS diagnosed family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. The children have gathered for a clinic to learn more about caring for people with Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It's a fatal illness that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, left, and his brother Keaton Kotiya, right, look on and smile after Alex Oliver pushed a toy car during a break in a workshop for young caregivers of ALS diagnosed family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. The children have gathered for a clinic to learn more about caring for people with Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It's a fatal illness that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Tom Simon, front, goes over electric chair trouble shooting and repair with Charlie Warlick, left, and Alex Oliver during a workshop for young caregivers of ALS diagnosed family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. The children have gathered for a clinic to learn more about caring for people with Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It's a fatal illness that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Melinda Kavanaugh, left, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee social work professor, puts her arm around a young caregiver of an ALS family members during a clinic in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. Kavanaugh thinks as many as 10 million children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. and says youth caregiving will grow as the U.S. population ages and chronic health problems like diabetes become more common. She and other researchers say young caregivers provide crucial help to their families, and they need more support. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Melinda Kavanaugh, right, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee social work professor, listens to Ronan Kotiya, 11, as the take a lunch break during a clinic for young caregivers of ALS family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. Kavanaugh thinks as many as 10 million children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. and says youth caregiving will grow as the U.S. population ages and chronic health problems like diabetes become more common. She and other researchers say young caregivers provide crucial help to their families, and they need more support. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Charlie Warlick, right, gets an explanation from Tom Simon on using modified eating utensils during a workshop for young caregivers of ALS diagnosed family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. The children have gathered for a clinic to learn more about caring for people with Lou Gehrig's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It's a fatal illness that attacks nerve cells that control muscles throughout the body. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Melinda Kavanaugh, left, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee social work professor, looks on and coments as Alex Oliver, center, and Charlie Warlick demonstrate how they use a rolling chair as caregivers of ALS family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. Kavanaugh thinks as many as 10 million children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. and says youth caregiving will grow as the U.S. population ages and chronic health problems like diabetes become more common. She and other researchers say young caregivers provide crucial help to their families, and they need more support. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Melinda Kavanaugh, center, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee social work professor, lets out a laugh while talking with Ronan Kotiya, 11, and his brother Keaton Kotiya, 9, during a workshop for young caregivers of ALS family members in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, April 9, 2022. Kavanaugh thinks as many as 10 million children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. and says youth caregiving will grow as the U.S. population ages and chronic health problems like diabetes become more common. She and other researchers say young caregivers provide crucial help to their families, and they need more support. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, watches television on the couch with his brother Keaton Kotiya, 9, near their father Rupesh Kotiya in their living room in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. The brother help care for their father who suffers from ALS. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Keaton Kotiya, 9, right, lifts sleeping bags as his father Rupesh Kotiya lays ready for sleep in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Keaton and his brother Ronan help care for their father who suffers from ALS. Their mother started letting the boys roll out sleeping bags each weekend during the pandemic as a treat when they couldn't go anywhere else. Now it has now become a weekend ritual as having the boys sleep next to their parents' bedroom instead of upstairs makes it easier to summon help. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, gets ready for a sleeping bag bed with his brother in their family's living room in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from ALS. His mother started letting the boys roll out sleeping bags each weekend during the pandemic as a treat when they couldn't go anywhere else. Now it has now become a weekend ritual as having the boys sleep next to their parents' bedroom instead of upstairs makes it easier to summon help. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Using a tablet screen, Rupesh Kotiya, let, communicates with his son Ronan Kotiya, 11, at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Keaton Koyita, 9, kisses his father Rupesh Kotiya after he helped prepare him for bed at their home in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Keaton Koyita, 9, right, adjusts his father Rupesh Kotiya's hand as he and his brother Ronan Kotiya, 11, helped prepare him for bed at their home in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Keaton Koyita, 9, left, used suction to clear his father Rupesh Kotiya's mouth as his brother Ronan Kotiya, 11, looks on at their home in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Keaton Koyita, 9, drives his father Rupesh Kotiya's chair as hid brother Ronan Kotiya, 11, collects equipment needed for care of their dad in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, right holds his father Rupesh Kotiya's ventilator tube as his mother works to clean his tracheotomy tube at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease that requires a ventilator and around the clock care. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, holds his father Rupesh Kotiya's ventilators tube at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease that requires a ventilator and around the clock care. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, holds his father Rupesh Kotiya's tracheostomy tube as his mother preparers to clean and change the tube's dressing at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, right holds his father Rupesh Kotiya's head as his wife Siobhan Pandya, left, prepare to move him to bed at their home in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, right, touches his father Rupesh Kotiya after he helped him get ready for bed at their home in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from ALS. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

ALS patient Rupesh Kotiya, center, is moved by his wife Siobhan Pandya, left, sons Keaton Koyita, 9, right, and Ronan Kotiya, 11, at their home in Plano, Texas, Friday, April 8, 2022. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, applies suction to clear his father Rupesh Kotiya's mouth at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from ALS and is dependent on a ventilator and around the clock care. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ronan Kotiya, 11, removes a compression leg sleeve from his father Rupesh Kotiya as his mother Siobhan Pandya looks at their home in Plano, Texas, Sunday, April 10, 2022. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from ALS and is dependent on a ventilator and around the clock care. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. Ronan helps care for his father who suffers from ALS and is dependent on a ventilator and around the clock care. Millions of Americans with serious health problems depend on children ages 18 and younger to provide some or all of their care at home. An exact number is hard to pin down, but researchers think millions of children are involved in caregiving in the U.S. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Young caregivers ‘exist in the shadows,’ offer crucial help