‘Before Susan started I think I was headed for a bit of a breakdown! I’d been dropping in to help Mum before and after work most days, and then doing her shopping & other errands on top of that.

I didn’t realise it at the time but I was pretty exhausted. Mum’s still fiercely independent but she is more frail than she used to be and needed more & more help with little things.

I’d thought about going part-time at work but wanted to put it off for as long as I could, both because I love my work and because of the impact it would have financially. The worst thing about trying to manage it all was that every time I saw Mum I was either in a mad rush because I had to get to work or was really tired because I’d already done more than a full day’s work. I loved being there to help Mum because we’re very close, but this frantic pace was just too much for both of us.

It was my sister in Perth who suggested we could share the cost of getting someone in to help so I wouldn’t have to do everything myself. After talking it over with Mum we arranged for Susan to start coming three mornings a week to help her shower and get ready for the day. I think Mum actually feels spoiled on the days Susan comes because she includes a head massage when she washes her hair and blow dries it in the style she likes. On Wednesday’s she gives Mum a foot rub to help her circulation and on Fridays they do some gentle exercise to music and bake a batch of scones to have ready for visitors over the weekend.

I think it makes Mum feel about thirty years younger having someone to help her do those little extra things that I didn’t always have the time to do. And I get the impression that, in some ways, Mum likes it that it’s not me who is helping her all the time. She feels more independent again. The way she talks about Susan to her friends at Church as ‘my Susan’ makes me laugh. It’s like she has her ‘own special person’ visit and she loves it.

I think the best thing about it is that now we both enjoy the time we spend together more because I’m not stressed out & in a hurry every time I’m there. Susan’s help has made the world of difference to both of us!’