“Caring for someone you love is a lonely pursuit. It’s tiring, mentally and physically. My late husband Richard had vascular dementia as well as other health problems, so I managed all his medical appointments and medication. I’m in my 80s and have my own health issues, but there was no room to focus on those – I just pushed them to one side.

“Coming to Longfield makes you feel like you matter for a little while – that can get lost when you’re a carer.”

I had no idea that Longfield supported carers, so I was surprised and delighted to be invited to attend a gardening group. I can’t drive now, so a volunteer driver would pick me up and take me home – how wonderful! All the staff were kind and welcoming. We did bits of gardening, nothing strenuous, and we talked about ourselves and our lives. I also had counselling which helped me enormously.”