The power of Respite Care

Zahra’s Story

Caring for an elderly mother-in-law with dementia while raising two young children left Zahra on the verge of collapse.

Zahra’s husband worked full-time, and their family life began to unravel. Their daughter missed her father, and the strain of constant caregiving left little space for rest.

“I was caring for my mother-in-law, my toddler, and my newborn all at once,” she explains. “It was overwhelming. I felt like I was breaking down.”

Then, a letter from SMRC arrived introducing the Support for Carers program.

Through this initiative, a compassionate support worker began visiting Zahra’s mother-in-law, offering care and companionship.

“The change was amazing,” Zahra says. “My mother-in-law bonded with the support worker. She holds her hand and asks her not to leave. For the first time in almost a year, we had quality time together as a family.”

While Zahra and her family are deeply grateful for the difference the program has made, they wish for more hours of support. “I highly recommend it to other carers,” she says. “It gave my family, and I space to breathe and reminded us that my wellbeing matters too.”