A 74-year-old great-grandmother from Somerset has become a kinship carer for her great-grandchildren following the death of her daughter. She says taking them into her care helped save her.
Kinship care involves relatives or other family members looking after children when their parents are unable to do so. In this case, the woman took responsibility for her great-grandchildren after the loss of her daughter.
Her account focuses on the personal impact of becoming their carer at the age of 74. She describes caring for the children as a life-changing experience and says it gave her a renewed sense of purpose after her daughter’s death.
The available details do not state when the arrangement began, how many great-grandchildren are involved or what support the family has received. The latest known position is that she continues to speak about her experience as a kinship carer and the importance of the role in her life.