Millions of families in the United States would have paid billions to health aides who would provide care to children with special health requirements. Instead, family members take care of these children themselves. This was the result of a study conducted in 2009 to 2010 involving 42,000 parents as well as guardians who provide care for these children.
Up to 1.5 billion hours of unpaid health care have been extended by the family care givers in a period of one year to around 5.6 million children who have special health care needs. The cost of this unpaid care would have reached $35.5 billion in 2015, estimated at an annual cost of $6,400 for every child.
"Although caring for a child with special health care needs can be rewarding, the time and effort families of children with special health care needs must often devote to providing health care at home has been found to potentially create financial problems, marital discord, sibling issues, problems at work, social isolation, and regular sleep disruptions," said Dr. Mark Schuste of the Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital.
However, Reuters said those who provide the free health care to these children lose $17.6 billion every year in terms of foreseen earnings. Schuster said that aside from the monetary losses, it can also compromise the mental and physical well-being of the parents. Among the medical conditions of children requiring special home care are cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, dystrophy and intellectual abilities.
Carol Levine, director of the Families and Health Care Project for the United Hospital Fund in New York City, said it is actually more than money and the hours lost that should be considered when family members have to take care of children with special needs. Fox News said children who are five years and below are more likely to require home health care than older kids. This type of care is more common not only among children who are poor but also those who have parents with only a high school degree.
Researchers said among the healthcare responsibilities of parents who have children with special needs include the operation of tubes for breathing and feeding. UPI said it is understandable that parents would want to care for their children but this could pose a challenge not only to them but also their other children. Most parents, however, have no choice since a home health care provider can be very expensive.
