"Knowing you have someone that can give you that break"

Adult social care doesn't just encompass care for the elderly. Adults living with disabilities can often require some level of care. This can be support accessing the community and social events or support with medication and personal care. Often there are family members who also act as unpaid carers, dedicating their lives to supporting their children. The support their children receive from social care workers is so valuable but its often easy to forget that it can have a positive impact on the whole support network of that person.

Nicky, from Liverpool, is an unpaid carer for he son Mike. They have accessed direct payment funding through the local council. For many years Mike's carers supported him to access activities and social events but as his health has worsened, they have provided over night support, respite and personal care. When asked about the impact accessing social care for her son had on her own life, Nicky said:

"I am a lone mum of a young man aged 30, he has special needs and severe medical problems. He is at present under palliative care and end of life. I have been an unpaid carer all of his life, bringing him and his brother up alone.  

Over the years I have struggled, keeping my sanity, without the support of social care I know I would have failed. Knowing you have someone that can give you that break, even if it was a week away, would keep me going, to recharge my batteries. At this moment in time, it is hard for me to focus but I can only thank the wonderful carers that are paid to come. They take away some of the strain and I know when the time comes I have less chance of being alone."