Hello Everyone – Caring has many angles 

Over the past few years, I’ve been doing the slow, careful work of putting myself back together after losing both my parents. Anyone who has walked that road will know it’s not something you “get over” – you just learn how to keep walking while carrying it. And just as I felt like things were settling, life tilted again.

My nephew has recently been diagnosed with a serious illness.

Suddenly, the caring role has shifted shape once more. Somewhere along the way, without really noticing it, I’ve become the “old man” of the family. I say that with a smile (and slightly aching knees) but also with a quiet sense of responsibility. My family are looking to me now – not to have all the answers, but to help hold things together in the ways I can.

That support doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s being the steady voice on the phone, the organiser, the explainer, the one who listens when things feel overwhelming. Sometimes it’s simply being present and saying, “You don’t have to carry this on your own.”

And the truth is, I don’t carry it alone either.

Family isn’t only defined by blood. It’s also built from the people who show up, who check in, who quietly ask, “What do you need right now?” My own put‑together family includes my colleagues at Carers Centre Tower Hamlets, and already they’ve offered support in all sorts of ways – emotional understanding, practical flexibility, kindness without fuss. That matters more than people often realise.

This is why I believe so strongly that carers need support structures around them, not just personal resilience within them.

It’s also why our new Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) toolkit for carers matters so much. Putting an LPA in place is not about expecting the worst – it’s about creating breathing space. It’s a form of support that works quietly in the background, giving carers clarity, confidence, and reassurance at times when life feels anything but clear.

When an LPA is in place, carers can focus on caring, loving, and responding to what’s in front of them – rather than battling systems, paperwork, or uncertainty during moments of crisis. It’s one less weight to carry when everything else already feels heavy.

Caring has many angles. Sometimes you’re the one needing support. Sometimes you’re the one others lean on. Often, you’re both at the same time.

And none of us should have to navigate that alone.

If you’re a carer and haven’t yet explored LPAs, our new toolkit is there to guide you – step by step, without judgement, and with your wellbeing in mind. Because support takes many forms, and planning ahead is one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves and the people we love.