A man caring for his wife with dementia was faced with a £3,000 bill for two weeks of respite after his "hip collapsed".
Dad-of-two John Ball, 85, is largely alone in looking after his wife Shirley, 87, who's wary of letting carers into their home. Originally from Anfield but living in Ainsdale in Southport, Shirley was diagnosed with dementia, which involves a progressive decline of memory and cognitive abilities, 17 years ago. Her condition has rapidly worsened in recent months, leading former Vauxhall worker John to say: "If she could see herself now, she'd be horrified."
Previously a "very neat, tidy" person, Shirley now leaves a trail of cold or milkless tea and switched on lights that add to John's caring role, from which he rarely gets a break. It also adds to mounting bills, like the grandparents' energy bill rising from roughly £2,000 to £3,000 a year in just 12 months, let alone the cost of care.
