Soham support groups help a couple rebuild life after a stroke

John Maxwell was frightened when his wife Carole came home after a brain haemorrhage. Becoming her full-time carer brought responsibilities he had never expected. In Soham, Cambridgeshire, local volunteers have helped the couple find company again.

The pair attend meetings at Soham Town Rangers Social Club and groups run by Caring Together. John told the BBC: “We couldn't survive socially if it wasn't for these volunteers.”

Caring Together’s carers’ hubs explain how that support works: free meetings combine conversation with other carers, advice, activities and local speakers. People can bring the person they care for, removing one practical obstacle to joining in.

The demands of caring remain. John missed his own hospital appointment when Carole had a seizure, and he also pays for regular care. His experience cannot tell us how every family fares.

But it shows what accessible community support can make possible alongside care at home: somewhere to meet people, share the load and keep a social life.

Sources

• BBC News — Unpaid carer was 'terrified' at new responsibility
• Caring Together — Carers’ hubs