Kid Caregivers, Part 1

Suzanne Newman talks with 14-year-old Hailey Richman from Long Island, New York. Hailey is executive director for two non-profit organizations that help seniors. When Hailey was four years old, her grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her grandmother was her best friend, and Hailey felt isolated. When she found out that there were no support groups for kids, just adults, she decided to make her own. At 8 she started blogging to support and empower other kids who are acting as caregivers. The site gives tips and suggestions for others like her. Hailey shared moments between her and her grandmother such as being called by her mom's name, and realizing that she needed to accept that and inhabit her grandmother's world in order to help her. She loved making puzzles with her grandmother, and when she brought friends over they'd make puzzles with others on her grandmother's floor. Why not make this for all nursing homes. She created Puzzle Time, an inter-generational program where girl scouts, church groups, and others can volunteer community service hours helping solve puzzles with people who have Alzheimer's. Support the cause by donating or volunteering to help get puzzles into facilities that don't have a lot of resources. Learn more at KidCaregivers.com and PuzzlesToRemember.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.