School-age caregivers: perceptions of school nurses working in central England

Children are caring for invalid relatives in Britain today, often at the expense of their own development. Research indicates these children are vulnerable to a wide range of problems. A preliminary investigation was conducted on the experiences of school nurses in central England to ascertain what they know about school-age caregivers, their awareness of how caring affects their health, and their perception of support available for caregivers. Eighteen school nurses participated in a qualitative investigation, which indicated that given recognition and resources, school nurses could identify school-age caregivers, their health needs, and, in cooperation with other agencies, provide these children with the necessary support.