Adam’s story: listening, resting and recharging

Adam’s story: listening, resting and recharging

Adam provides extensive care and support to several family members. He cares for his mother, who has a physical disability, and his father, who has heart health issues. Both of his parents are elderly and rely on him for day-to-day support. Adam also supports his partner, who experiences mental health challenges.

His caring role is wide-ranging and includes assisting with personal care, cooking, laundry, housework, and food shopping. He accompanies all three family members to hospital and GP appointments, provides medication prompts, and manages most household bills and administrative responsibilities.

The demands of caring mean that Adam is rarely able to fully switch off. He explained that late evenings and night-time are often the only times he has for himself. Even then, he feels constantly on call and needs to remain readily available in case he is needed. This can make it difficult to make plans or commit to activities, as they often must be cancelled at short notice.

After speaking with staff at his local carers' centre, Adam was encouraged to consider what a meaningful short break might look like for him. Through these conversations, he identified reading, music and podcasts as activities that helped him relax and unwind. Reflecting on how he could realistically access these interests around his caring responsibilities, Adam applied for a Time to Live microgrant to purchase a Kindle and a year's subscription to an audiobook service.

The grant gave Adam access to books in a way that fit around his busy caring role. Whether waiting at appointments, taking a quiet moment at home, or resting in the evening while remaining close by if needed, he could now enjoy valuable time for himself.

"The Kindle and the audiobooks collectively have been a massive help for me. I can read on the Kindle when I'm out waiting at appointments or at home. The audiobooks mean that I can close my eyes and rest at night while still being close by if needed. Even just an hour of closing my eyes and listening to a book is relaxing and soothing."

The impact has extended beyond simply providing access to books. The grant has given Adam permission to prioritise his own wellbeing and recognise the importance of taking regular moments to recharge.

Find out more about Time to Live here.