This video was animated by Khoo Siew May and produced by Our Better World.

HERE’S HOW THE CREATORS DESCRIBE THIS VIDEO:

When Melissa’s Dad was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, she was only 14 years old.

It changed the family dynamics, and she was forced to grow up to take on the responsibility of a caregiver for her Dad. “Our roles reversed,” she said. “I had to be the parent.”

We tend to think of dementia as a condition that primarily affects older persons, and issues of early-onset are often overlooked, including its impact on family members.

The challenges that young caregivers face are unique, especially with having to cope with the struggles of adolescence, alongside competing demands of school and caregiving.