Kids Who Care: Why More Teens Like Joshua Yang Are Becoming Caregivers
ST. PAUL, Minn. — By the time Joshua Yang was midway through 10th grade, his life had already taken a turn few teenagers can imagine. A devastating car crash left his mother with debilitating tremors and robbed her of her mobility. Doctors later diagnosed her with Parkinson’s disease, likely triggered by brain injuries sustained in the accident.
At just 15, Yang—a hopeful baseball player and an active member of his school’s debate team—suddenly found himself taking on a new role: his mother’s caregiver.
His story, shared on CBS News, reflects a growing national reality. Researchers estimate that Yang, now 18, is one of at least 5.4 million children and teens in the U.S. caring for an adult at home. And as policymakers debate cuts to Medicaid and other support programs, experts fear this number may climb dramatically.
A Heavy Load for Young Shoulders
The stakes are high—not just for those receiving care, but for the kids themselves. Studies consistently show that caregiving teens experience worse health, increased stress, and falling academic performance. Meanwhile, their loved ones are often left with inexperienced care.
“All of it fell on me,” Yang recalled. His younger sisters were just 9 and 10 at the time, and their stepfather worked nights. As Joshua stepped up, his grades slipped, and he dropped all extracurriculars. “I just didn’t have the time,” he said.
Early on, some relief came in the form of a personal care nurse, who provided essentials like adult diapers and recommended assistive devices such as a shower chair. For about a year, Yang was also able to earn $1,000 a month through a caregiving agency—money that went toward his mother’s medications and household expenses.
But by junior year, a change in his mother’s insurance ended that benefit. What followed was a bureaucratic maze with the local Medicaid office.
“For a solid month, I was on hold during class,” he said. “I’d be sitting in third period saying, ‘Mr. Stepan, can I step out?’—just waiting for someone to finally pick up the phone.”
A System on Shaky Ground
According to a May report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, federal grants under the National Family Caregiver Support Program can be used to help caregivers under 18. But the future of those grants is uncertain. They rely on funding from the Older Americans Act, which is still awaiting reauthorization, and the Administration for Community Living, which oversees the grants, saw its budget nearly halved in April as part of restructuring under former President Donald Trump.
If Congress approves proposed Medicaid cuts, one of the first likely casualties will be the home- and community-based service programs—vital lifelines that allow Medicaid-eligible individuals to receive care at home rather than in institutions. These programs cost around $158 billion in 2021 and served nearly 5% of all Medicaid enrollees.
But because Medicaid is legally required to fund institutional care, home-based programs are often the first to be slashed in times of austerity.
“When professional help disappears, the burden usually shifts to the family,” said Andrew Olenski, a healthcare economist at Lehigh University. “And when adults can’t take that on—because of work or distance—it often falls on the kids.”
The Emotional Toll—and Rare Rewards
Some research suggests that caregiving can build confidence and strengthen family bonds. Yang agrees. “I feel like I’m more on top of things than most people my age,” he said. “My friends are worrying about how to land a job interview, and I’ve already applied to seven or eight.”
But for many young caregivers, the price is steep. They face higher rates of anxiety, depression, and physical health issues—often due to stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep or self-care. One large study found that caregiving teens spent 42 fewer minutes on homework and 31 fewer minutes in class per day than their peers.
Some states are beginning to take notice. In Colorado, a recent statewide survey added a new question about caregiving. The result: more than 12% of high schoolers said they help care for someone in their home with chronic illness or disability.
Rhode Island has gone even further. After a 2023 study found that 29% of middle and high school students were caregiving—7% for most of the day—the state’s education department mandated every school to develop a plan to support student caregivers.
Changing the Conversation in Classrooms
For Lindsey Tavares, principal of Apprenticeship Exploration School in Cranston, the data hit hard. Nearly half of her students identified as caregivers.
“That knowledge changed everything,” she said. “When a student’s grades drop or they stop showing up, we now ask a different set of questions.”
Students have shared stories of skipping school to translate at doctor’s appointments, staying home to care for siblings, or working late nights to support their families. Tavares and her team respond by connecting students to mental health resources, offering flexible academic support, and working one-on-one with teachers to keep students from falling behind.
“We can’t always fix the situation,” she said. “But we can help them finish school.”
Rhode Island’s initiative is being carried out in partnership with the American Association for Caregiving Youth, which began its Caregiving Youth Project in 2006. The program provides peer support, healthcare training, and even summer camp to middle and high school students juggling caregiving duties. More than 700 students participated this school year.
“For these kids, it’s powerful to know they’re not alone,” said Dr. Julia Belkowitz, a pediatrician and professor at the University of Miami who studies young caregivers. “And for the rest of us, it’s important to realize who’s doing this essential work.”
The Future Joshua Yang Is Building
Back in St. Paul, Joshua Yang had originally dreamed of studying civil engineering at the University of Minnesota. But practicality won out. This fall, he’s enrolling at a local community college, where he’ll have a more flexible schedule—and still be able to care for his mother.
The good news? His younger sisters, now 12 and 13, are ready to step up. “They’re real people now,” he said, smiling. “They’ve got their own personalities, their own sense of responsibility.”
In their home, caregiving isn’t just a duty—it’s a shared purpose.
“We all know,” Yang said, “that we’re the most important people in our mom’s life. So, we help.”