Synopsis "The Sharing Path: Based on a true story"
The diary of carers, who develop a loving relationship as the walk together along the River Thames. The book highlights the challenges faced by carers as they seek to care for those they love when they are failed by the care system. The story is told in a form of a walking diary to help the reader to understand the challenges faced by those who sacrifice their own lives to care for others. The story reveals how love came through tragedy, as two people who gave up their lives to care for others, find love as they support each other through difficult times. This is a real-life drama where through adversity a couple found true love as they walked together. The story also tells of how two people, one with Motor Neurone Disease the other with Alzheimer's are care for by a member of their family through the difficult phases of their lives. The couples shared experiences draw them closer and their friendship grows as they help and support each other through the stress and trauma caused by the unexpected twists and turns in their lives, and of those they care for. The book highlights the myriad of problems when caring for two people with differing needs, whilst still working, these are not helped by the care services, who frequently make the situation more stressful. It also highlights the failures in the care system and how the needs of the carer are often completely ignored and those who ought to be cared for are negligent. The book exposes the poor standard of care often given to older people, and the needless suffering caused by failures in the care system, both to patients and their families. The book provides an insight to stress placed on the frequently forgotten and neglected carers, and the issues that are ignored, by social services, the health services, politicians and religious leaders who pretend these problems do not exist.
