Chris and Ray's story

Chris, 72, has been bedbound for years. She has ME, is doubly incontinent, and her fingers are so deformed she can do nothing for herself. She is cared for by her friend, Ray, 83, who helps with eating, washing and changing.
 
Ray says, 'I have looked after Chris for the past 20 years ever since I retired and I have saved the state over half a million pounds in the process.'
 
'Chris was very independent, an athlete and an academic, making it particularly galling to be utterly dependent on others for her very existence, but she never complains. Even eating is a problem - ME being a muscle disease. She cannot chew, so all her food has to be pureed then fed to her. The day starts with a change of incontinence pad, and preparing and feeding Chris’ breakfast.'
 
'When we lived in London, we received £10,000 a year in direct payments towards care. We used this to buy in care for two hours in the morning and evening – I couldn’t cope without a bit of help each day. But since we moved to another local authority, the Council considers us too rich to need financial support.'
 
'We still need the care so have had to pay for it out of our own savings. Together we had £50,000 in savings when we retired. That has gone down to £8,000. We have had to reduce the amount of care we buy in.'
 
'We’ve worked hard all our lives and also given much to others in additional voluntary work, now we consider we should receive something back. We have used half of our joint savings on private care, but have no idea how long the money will last. As stated above, I am over 80 and I feel thoroughly unsupported. Because caring is physically very demanding, what worries me most is what will happen if illness or aging prevent me from caring.'

Chris says, 'I am so grateful to Ray for the way she looks after me. She does everything and I hate to think where I would be without her. I just wish that there was more help for people like us. It feels doubly unfair that we are left to fend for ourselves just because we moved. What happens if our savings run out?'