Seven years ago Stephen received a phone call that changed his life. It was from a support worker in Sydney explaining that his adult son had developed severe mental health issues.
Caught unawares – his son had bravely downplayed his challenges – Stephen dropped everything and together with mental health professionals, supported his son to stabilise and reintegrate into family life.
At 67, becoming a full-time carer was far from Stephen’s mind but it soon became his reality.
Not long after stepping up to help his son, Stephen’s ex-wife suffered a series of devastating strokes and developed severe disabilities as a result. In addition to caring for his son, Stephen now had to care for his ex-wife and their daughter with autism who had previously lived with her mother.
In the blink of an eye, Stephen went from working full-time to caring full-time, navigating the complexities of mental health care for his son, the challenges of providing intensive physical care for his ex-wife, and constant vigilance and support for his daughter.
“There’s a lot of emotion in my house when you have three people with different types of disabilities and brain injuries and psychosis – there’s never a moment where it’s the same.”
A good sense of humour is vital, he says. His loyalty and resilience in the face of adversity is admirable, but as a carer he needed support too.
Stephen found a lifeline in Carers WA which has played a pivotal role in helping him connect with appropriate services and provided non-judgemental advice and support throughout his journey.
“When you’ve lived the experience, you get quite a bit of knowledge. And you live with it 24-hours-a-day, so you’re getting that knowledge all the time. And one thing that Carers WA has done for me, it’s reassured me a lot, and it’s given me a lot more energy, knowing that I’m doing the right things.”
From managing medical appointments and therapies to ensuring the emotional well-being of his family members, Stephen’s days are filled with responsibilities that reflect the relentless nature of his role as a carer; however it’s a role that he would never change.
“For me, it’s very rewarding. I enjoy the work, I enjoy the responsibility, and I do get a lot of happiness out of it.”
As Stephen continues to look after his family, he is also planning for the future to ensure continuity of care. His goal is to secure a stable support network that will guarantee their well-being in years to come.
Stephen’s dedication to his family demonstrates the often unseen impact that carers have in our communities.
Inspired by Winston Churchill, Stephen lives by the motto “never give up, never give in”, and his happy, well-cared for family is testament to this unwavering determination and his ability to enjoy the positives when life throws a curve-ball, or three.
