Some 200,000 people care for loved-ones in Ireland. Among them is Jack Brennan, an 84-year-old who cares for his beloved wife, Bernie. She has Alzheimer’s disease and cannot even perform the most basic tasks.

I have wanted to write this article since I was a few hours into the care of my 18-year-old and the penny dropped with an almighty clang that caring for him was the hardest work I’d ever done.

A major fundraiser is being planned to make up a shortfall in money needed to operate a charity-run home in Cork, which currently caters for 128 residents and 100 day care patients.