Hello! I’m Chantelle - former Paediatric Occupational Therapist, full time employee, primary caregiver and your new go-to for honest conversations about the emotional, financial (and very real) costs of caring.

For years, I worked as an OT, supporting children to live their best lives despite their diagnoses. I thought I had a pretty good grip on what care involved. But life decided I needed a little more education.

Now, I’m the primary carer for my elderly, disabled parents - and let me tell you, nothing quite prepares you for this side of the story.

My Mum

My mum lives with osteoarthritis and destructive arthritis in her ankle. She’s had a hindfoot nailing that sadly failed, leaving her borderline immobile. She also battles lymphoedema and chronic pain, which adds to the daily struggle. In 2023, the broken pin from her hindfoot nailing caused an infection which resulted in sepsis. Due to the pain of the infection, she stopped moving completely and went on to develop a Deep Vein Thrombosis which led to a pulmonary embolism. We weren’t quite sure she was going to make it.

At home, we don’t have a great deal of appropriate equipment which results in her being housebound. Their house desperately needs adaptations to make life safer, but they don’t qualify for free support - another layer of financial and emotional stress that so many carers will know all too well.

My Dad

My dad has had two strokes, which have significantly affected his mobility, speech and cognition. Every day is a balancing act, managing his care needs while also supporting his independence. He’s still got that quiet spark, but the strokes have changed his life - and ours - in ways I never expected.

The Reality

Living between working full time and A&E visits has become our normal. I never anticipated the sheer amount of fighting involved - fighting (and often failing) for equipment, for services, for financial support and frankly, for my own peace of mind.

On top of this, I currently work a 40-hour week and we’re in the middle of moving house (to be closer to my parents). It’s a lot. Some days I handle it with grace. Other days I’m crying in my car eating crisps. We are where we are.

The emotional toll of caregiving isn’t spoken about enough - the guilt, the exhaustion, the isolation, the resentment. But it’s there, every day, quietly shaping how we move through the world.

Why I’m Here

I created this space to share the raw, unfiltered reality of being a caregiver to my parents. To say the things we’re often too scared or too exhausted to say out loud. To offer practical tips grounded in my OT background, and to connect with carers and Allied Health Professionals who want to understand what care really involves when you’re living it 24/7.

This isn’t a glossy version of caregiving. It’s real life, it’s messy, it’s hard - but it can also be full of humour, resilience and love.

If you’re walking a similar path, I see you. You’re not alone.
Let’s figure this out together.