One client, 91-year-old Alan Gregg who is recovering from cancer and has chronic arthritis, said he has four care visits a day.
“The women are so good to me, I like a wee bit of company and, yes, to some extent they keep me alive.”
Alan may have a stoma and a catheter, and require personal care, but he still considers himself independent.
“I worked in the Navy most of my life, so being independent at this age is important. And I am still able to read and lift weights.”
But it is challenging work for the likes of Bronagh and Kellie, from paying for fuel and keeping their cars road worthy.
Bronagh said politicians and officials in the Department of Health do not appreciate the job that carers do in keeping people at home and out of hospital.
“We just don’t feel appreciated. We aren’t paid enough,” she added.
It is a view Liz understands. She said more people like Freda in Northern Ireland would allow more people like her to live at home and save the health service money.
She is still coming to terms with how her life has altered, and the acceptance of her husband’s departure for a care home.
“He loved the garden and walking in the countryside but had started to wander off, I miss him but have accepted our lives have changed,” Liz said.
“I still have a little bit of wit – I am fine and I just tend to write a lot of things down,” she said.