Thelma's story: reflexology brings relief

Thelma's story: reflexology brings relief

Thelma cares for her elderly husband, who is living with dementia. Over recent months, his condition has declined significantly. He now communicates very little and requires support around the clock. While Thelma receives some assistance at home, the demands of caring are constant, and she has increasingly found herself feeling drained and exhausted. Alongside her caring responsibilities, she is also managing her own health concerns, making it even more important that she takes time to look after her wellbeing.

After applying for a Time to Live microgrant, Thelma was awarded funding to purchase a block of reflexology sessions. These relaxing treatments gave her the opportunity to step away from her caring role for a short time and focus on her own physical and emotional wellbeing.

During one of her sessions, the therapist took time to learn more about Thelma's caring role and the challenges she faces daily. Through their conversations, Thelma explained that the unpredictable nature of caring sometimes made it difficult for her to attend appointments. She worried about having to cancel at short notice if her husband's needs changed unexpectedly. Recognising these challenges, the therapist suggested a more flexible approach. She offered reassurance that appointments could be rescheduled if necessary and even discussed the possibility of providing treatments at home should travelling become too difficult.

"I built up such a good relationship with my therapist, who really tried to understand my struggles. Because there was flexibility, she agreed not to cancel my sessions if I was having a difficult day. Instead, we could rearrange them, and she even offered to visit me at home. That reassurance really helped. I knew I wasn't going to waste the grant or lose any valuable sessions. I am truly grateful for all of this support."

The flexibility offered through the grant and the therapist's understanding meant that Thelma could fully benefit from the sessions, without the added anxiety of fitting them around an unpredictable caring role. As a result, she has been able to enjoy meaningful moments of relaxation, improve her wellbeing, and continue in her caring role feeling more supported and resilient.

Find out more about Time to Live here.