Student Caregivers Need More Support From Colleges Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again. × Search search POPULAR SEARCHES SUGGESTED LINKS Join AARP for just $9 per year when you sign up for a 5-year term. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

5 Million Student Caregivers Need More Resources and Flexibility From Schools

AARP report finds 7 in 10 say caring for a loved one affects academic performance

PeopleImages/Getty Images Heather Garner can't begin to imagine what her life would be like if she were a full-time student. As a full-time caregiver for her husband, Garner's life is tough enough just a few weeks every year when she must travel across New York state to take a series of continuing education classes to remain a certified assessor, yet somehow still provide caregiving for her husband, Mike. Mike almost died four years ago when he became ill with pancreatitis and was in a coma for weeks. At age 45, he has no spleen and faces potentially life-threatening issues on a daily basis. His medical debt exceeds $500,000. Heather, 43, acts as his full-time caregiver even as she as an assessor and must take continuing education classes to keep her assessor's license. Since they , she brings her husband along on these mandatory training trips. Mike may sit in the car for hours while Heather's in class — and they hope that no medical emergency comes up during that time. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. "If only there were waivers for people like me,” says Heather. If her licensing requirements could be modified to taking classes every other year, for example, that could make their lives so much easier, she says.

Complex world of student caregivers

Welcome to the often uncomfortable, unpredictable and — for most of us — unimaginable world of student caregiving. Some 5 million adult students attending colleges, universities or trade schools also are caregivers of adults — typically their parents or grandparents — and while most of these student caregivers need resources and flexibility, only a fraction of them receive any, according to a landmark of 400 adults completed in June. These student caregivers — many of whom also work at least part-time — must balance the complexities of significant academic demands with work requirements and unpredictable caregiving duties "Most universities don't even think that students have caregiving responsibilities,” says Dana Burr Bradley, dean of the Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. “It wouldn't even be in their mindset." Changing that mindset is critical, according to the report, because the well-being of millions of adult student caregivers — and their loved ones — is at stake.

Emotional strain and missed deadlines

The numbers are staggering.

Impact on Academic Success

,” says Jean Accius, senior vice president, AARP Global Thought Leadership. “But there are very few policies within the world of higher education that assist student caregivers — particularly those who are caring for an older adult." Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers > Instead, according to the AARP report, many college administrators, college professors and even college students themselves appear to turn their backs on student caregivers. Nearly one-quarter of student caregivers interviewed said they felt “discriminated” against because of their caregiving responsibilities. And some 43 percent of student caregivers kept their caregiving responsibilities private, more than half of them because they believed their school or institution would not understand their situation. While the majority of student caregivers say they have told someone at their school that they are providing care for someone else, most of the time that person is a fellow student. Only 1 in 3 say they have informed their instructor or another staff member. Of those who did apprise instructors of their caregiver status, most said they did receive support, but the actual level of help seems to be lacking because only 1 in 3 said their instructor was “very supportive."

Addressing the issue head-on

What needs to be done? First, Accius says, schools need to acknowledge that the problem exists. Next, colleges need to train staff and promote whatever resources they have available for student caregivers. “Some schools provide resources for students caring for minor children but they're not even thinking about students caring for older adults,” Accius says. These services could benefit not only students, but also university employees, he adds. What student caregivers need most of all, he says, is more “flexibility.” This would require early identification of their caregiver status, then offers of flexibility on everything from extended deadlines on assignments to a better understanding of possible class-attendance issues. Also, he notes, schools may need to offer tuition reimbursement policies for student caregivers who have to withdraw from a class due to changing caregiving responsibilities. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe MORE FROM AARP AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS