Jennifer’s story: at-home hot tub retreat

Jennifer’s story: at-home hot tub retreat

Jennifer is a single parent caring for two children under 18, who both have additional support needs. Both children experience severe anxiety and are not currently receiving any additional support at school or elsewhere. Due to their needs, Jennifer is unable to work and often spends restless nights supporting her children, who struggle to sleep.

Alongside her caring responsibilities, Jennifer also manages her own health conditions, including back issues and arthritis in her joints. As is often the case for unpaid carers, she found it difficult to prioritise her own emotional and physical wellbeing.

During a conversation with her social worker, Jennifer was encouraged to apply for a Time to Live grant. With the funding, she purchased an inflatable hot tub for her garden. The hot tub was an ideal choice as it fitted the available space and provided an accessible way for her to relax, while managing the pain associated with her arthritis.

The benefits extended beyond Jennifer's own wellbeing. She found that when the children joined her for a hot tub session in the evening, they appeared calmer and often slept better afterwards. Having a relaxing activity available at home gave the family valuable opportunities to unwind together.

The hot tub has provided Jennifer with a practical and easily-accessible way to take short breaks, improving her wellbeing and create positive moments of relaxation for both her and her children.

Find out more about Time to Live here.