by Mary Cullen

Above and beyond: the people behind unpaid care. Lynn Jolly, Handsel Press, 2025.

This little book opens a window on the world of unpaid care and the people who look after others, usually members of their family, in their own home.  In its 87 pages we meet women and men of all ages who share their life stories and describe how they became carers.  They include Steven, who looks after his disabled sons; Holly, who has grown up with her disabled sister; Dave, who set up a support group for people facing heart surgery which in turn has helped him cope with his wife’s dementia.

We meet two prisoners who share their experience of receiving and providing care.  One is growing old and deaf and suffers from arthritis; he needs a bottom bunk and struggles to hear all important prison instructions.  Three months into his sentence he suffered a heart attack.  He now has a new and deep appreciation of the way prison officers ‘look out’ for him.  The other man, young and on his first sentence, spotted a new arrival walking alone in the exercise yard and discovered that he had a hearing impairment.  Every day during exercise they walk together and the befriender has begun to learn British Sign Language and to act as interpreter with others.

The book’s author, Lynn Jolly, is uniquely placed to take us into the world of carers.  She spent some time living and working with a religious community who moved beyond their traditional structures to work with people in marginalised sections of society, such as refugees and homeless people.  Today, as they have aged, members of the community find themselves in need of the care and support they once offered others.  Where they continue to live in small communities under one roof, as a way of supporting each other to go out and serve, they now devote more time to caring for each other.

To buy a copy of the book contact clydebankcc@carerswd.org.  All proceeds go to Carers of West Dunbartonshire.

Mary Cullen is the former editor of Open House.