Betty’s story: home, happiness and a hen coup

Betty’s story: home, happiness and a hen coop

Betty lives with her husband, David in a rural community where they have built a life centred around their home and garden. David is partially sighted because of age-related macular degeneration, and also lives with several long-term health conditions. These conditions affect his mobility, independence and ability to carry out daily tasks, meaning Betty provides ongoing support to help him manage everyday life.

During a conversation with a Carer Support Worker, Betty spoke about how difficult it can be to think about taking a break from caring. While she understood the importance of having time for herself, she explained that she did not want to travel far from home or spend time away from David. They are happiest together and she wanted any break from caring to fit around their life and interests.

As they talked about what a meaningful break might look like, Betty shared a life-long wish: she had always wanted to keep hens. With support from her Carer Support Worker, Betty applied for a Time to Live microgrant. The funding enabled her to purchase a hen coop, several hens and seeds to help expand their garden.

The impact was immediate. The hens quickly became part of daily life, each with their own name and personality. Betty and David enjoy spending time watching the hens wander around the garden, listening to their gentle clucking and collecting fresh eggs each day. The project has brought new enjoyment, routine and companionship to their lives while allowing Betty to experience a break from caring in a way that feels right for her.

“I was really happy when I received the grant because it meant I could finally own hens, something I had always wanted to do. David and I have them in the garden now and they all have names. We both love hearing them in the garden and, of course, enjoying the fresh eggs!"

For Betty, the grant provided much more than hens and a coop. It created an opportunity to enjoy a meaningful break without leaving home, strengthened the activities she and David enjoy together, and added a new source of joy and wellbeing to their everyday lives. It is a wonderful example of how a small amount of support can make a lasting difference to an unpaid carer's quality of life.

Find out more about Time to Live here.