Several years ago my mum had open heart surgery and I travelled 1000kms back and forth to care for her for months Mum also has a Parkinson’s-like disease plus severe mobility issues and is basically wheelchair-bound, only able to walk short distances She’s suffered from awful anxiety issues most of her life too.

I was spending more and more time travelling back and forth to care for her and eventually had to run the gauntlet of everything ‘aged-care’ to try to get her some extra help, it’s not until you experience this that you realise how inadequate, useless and frustrating the whole system is.

I have been diagnosed with a severe autoimmune condition so my daughter is now mum’s carer, but she has Fibromyagia and Hashimoto’s and also struggles with caring.

Mum refuses to go into respite to give my daughter a break and has alienated many family and friends who could help care for her for short periods and legally we can’t force her, my daughter is exhausted and has attempted suicide before when she was totally overwhelmed.

(This is a long a complicated story, far too long for here )

It seems carers have no real rights.