I ONLY HAVE TO PICK UP THE PHONE

James Smith knew from the day he first saw his wife, Cecilia, that she was his destiny.

"I was 17 on a bus to a dance hall when I spotted her at the bus stop. I watched every stop after that, hoping she was going to the same place."

She was. They danced but made no plans. Their paths unexpectedly crossed the following week. This time James asked Cecilia for a date – she said yes, and they’ve been married 54 years.

James took on a caring role from early on. Cecilia has lived with type 1 diabetes all her life. “Her dad made it clear when we were courting that I’d need to look out for signs of a diabetic hypo because Cecilia wouldn’t always know. I was glad to.”

The couple had two children and enjoyed a ‘wonderful’ family life. When their family was grown, they cruised their way around Europe.

Cecilia is upbeat and positive despite constant ill health. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. But while Cecilia was relieved to know the cause of her memory loss, her husband was in shock. “I didn’t know what to expect, I was fearing the worst.”

He was signposted to a Mersey Care unpaid carer course – and found it a revelation. “I went with an open mind. I just wanted to be educated but we’ve both got much more from it. Being with other people in the same situation gives you a different take on things. If we need something, I only have to pick up the phone.”

Their love is tangible. Cecilia turns to her husband. “We’re alright, aren’t we?” she laughs. James nods. “If I said it wasn’t sometimes stressful, I’d be lying. But we’re happy. Cecilia says she’d be lost without me. I say, ‘I’d be even more lost without you’.”

WE’LL CARE FOR YOU

If you are supporting someone receiving care from a Mersey Care service, you can register for their Carer Pathway. You’ll be put in touch with a carer engagement officer who will help you look after yourself, meet other carers and discover new ways to help the person you care for.

They’ll tell you about courses and events and help you access carer centres and other community organisations that can offer the right support, whenever you need it.

Once you’ve registered with a member of our team, you’ll have a one to one appointment to find out what you need. From then on you can receive regular updates, take part in courses and attend events. If you wish, you’ll have a chance to be part of future developments.

Choose Your Course

• Mersey Care’s carer Training Education and Support programme (TES) is a collection of courses to help you better understand and learn new skills to support the people you care for, and to recognise your needs and support your own wellbeing

Find out more at: Caring for our carers: merseycare.nhs.uk

• Your local Life Rooms will have a range of free courses. Your carer engagement officer will tell you what’s on. Or look online at: liferooms.org

• Check Mersey Care’s website for more information: merseycare.nhs.uk