Rida's Story

The irony is not lost on me. I spent twenty years as a nurse in Luton, caring for other people's loved ones. When Amir was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's at fifty-three, I became a carer at home as well. Eventually, the two roles became impossible to sustain, and I had to choose.

Leaving nursing was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. It was not just a job — it was my identity. But Amir needed consistency, and he needed me. As the disease progressed, he became frightened with unfamiliar faces. I was the only person who could calm him.

Carers in Luton understood that I was grieving my career as well as my husband's health. The emotional support service helped me work through that loss. They also connected me with the financial advice team, because losing my income created real hardship. The practical and emotional support together — that is what kept us going.