Question

Read the case study, then answer the questions that follow. Travis is a young carer and the primary carer for his mother, Trudi, whose condition has begun to deteriorate over the past few months. Some of Trudi’s friends also provide assistance by cooking meals and doing some of the housework. Her friends have come to know her food preferences well and together have developed a menu list for each week to ensure she eats a balanced diet, based around her preferred foods. Travis provides constant supervision and guidance for Trudi, and has an almost intuitive awareness of her emotional and physical needs. Travis is finding it hard to maintain his social network and keep up with his schoolwork and is thinking about dropping out of school completely. Bethany provides ongoing support to Travis and his mum, and they have begun talking about longer term options for Trudi to move into an out-of-home care situation and how Travis feels about no longer taking on the full time caring responsibilities for her. Travis often comments that he feels a bit like someone who has grown up before his time and that many of his former friendship group simply don’t understand why he can’t come down to the beach with them at a moment’s notice. They simply don’t realise how demanding caregiving is, and why it is important that Travis spend the bulk of his time at home, in case he is needed. Lately, he has noticed that his friends have simply stopped ringing or texting him at all. Travis says that one of his friends has told him it’s just not normal for a young person to be caring for his mother. Bethany listens carefully to Travis and then makes some comments to check she has understood him correctly. They then begin to talk about what he might decide to do in the future. Bethany shows Travis some information, application forms and eligibility criteria guidelines about an out-of-home residential setting near his home, where his mother might be able to move and which would still allow Travis to visit frequently and be involved in her care. She explains that the service has clear guidelines about eligibility and a strong set of policies and guidelines as well as a code of conduct for workers so that Travis would know that she was being well cared for. There is an open door policy, which means Travis could visit any time, and a strong commitment to encouraging community-based activities to maintain links with friends, family members and the wider community. Travis decides to encourage his mother to consider the option of out-of-home residential care, so he meets with Trudi, Bethany and a manager from the setting to begin discussing the options.

a. What attitudes, stereotypes, false beliefs and myths should Bethany have identified in this situation?

Answer 1

Bethany should identify and address societal attitudes and stereotypes that may stigmatize or underestimate young carers, recognizing the importance of Travis's unique caregiving role.

In this situation, Bethany should be attuned to potential attitudes, stereotypes, false beliefs, and myths surrounding young caregivers like Travis. She should recognize that societal norms may not fully appreciate the challenges faced by young individuals who assume caregiving responsibilities for their family members. There might be misconceptions about the appropriateness of such roles for young people, leading to potential isolation and misunderstanding.

Bethany's role is to challenge these stereotypes, ensuring that Travis receives the support and understanding he needs while also providing him with information about alternative care options for his mother. By addressing these societal attitudes, Bethany can create a supportive environment for Travis and facilitate informed decisions regarding his mother's care.