Bank of mum, dad and sister: family members turn to one another in crisis

theguardian.com:

Madeleine Knight* is dreading the winter. Not for herself, but for her 57-year-old brother, who lives with Parkinson’s disease and dementia in a house with a prepayment meter for their energy. Last year, he and his wife were afraid to put on the heating for more than an hour at a time.

“They spent the winter huddled in dressing gowns. How are they possibly expected to cope with the cost of living this year?” says Knight.

On a pension of £10,000 a year, she gives them about £100 a month to help them manage, although they struggle constantly.

“I cannot bear to see them suffer, especially as my brother probably doesn’t have long to live. His wife should not have to worry like this – I often wonder if she will snap under the strain, and harm herself, and him.

“I would not blame them for ending their lives – they have nothing to look forward to, and no hope. I cry every day thinking about how bleak and dreadful their lives are.”

Knight is not alone in worrying about her family. As the cost of living crisis worsens, and energy bills rise, grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters are turning to each other for financial help.

Observer readers have been telling their stories.

Charlotte Cole* helps her granddaughter, who is in her 20s and brings up her younger brother while in a job with a zero-hours contract. Cole buys groceries every few weeks to ensure they have enough food.

“We have, on many occasions, had to transfer money quickly because there’s none at all, and they need food, or electricity, or both,” she says.

“We have huge concerns for the future. We’ve been really stretched this year helping them to get through, and now we’re all facing a huge hike in energy and food inflation, and can’t see how we’ll be able to help enough