Responsibility for a parent Some young people are faced with the dilemma of how far they should be involved in the care of a sick parent. This problem is not, of course, unique to HD, though it may become one earlier than in other families. The question of care is discussed in Chapter 5, but it needs repeating that you have to consider very carefully the immediate and long-term effects on you before you commit yourself to looking after a mother or father however much you may love them. This may be right for some people but not for others. You can be under considerable pressure from others, even from your well parent who depends on you to take over at times, but a social worker will help sort out what services are needed, what are available, and what help from you is reasonable given your own feelings and circumstances.

Responsibility for a parent Some young people are faced with the dilemma of how far they should be involved in the care of a sick parent. This problem is not, of course, unique to HD, though it may become one earlier than in other families. The question of care is discussed in Chapter 5, but it needs repeating that you have to consider very carefully the immediate and long-term effects on you before you commit yourself to looking after a mother or father however much you may love them. This may be right for some people but not for others. You can be under considerable pressure from others, even from your well parent who depends on you to take over at times, but a social worker will help sort out what services are needed, what are available, and what help from you is reasonable given your own feelings and circumstances.