Catherine Rossiter, a 52-year-old mother from Stillorgan, Dublin, is the primary caregiver for her 12-year-old twins, Aoife and Eoghan, who face significant health challenges. Aoife has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, while Eoghan was diagnosed with autism. Rossiter describes her daily life as sometimes feeling like 'not living but just existing,' with long days of caregiving that can extend up to 15 hours. Her situation reflects a broader crisis among family carers, as highlighted in the recent Family Carers Ireland report, which states that 71% of family carers struggle financially and nearly half experience severe loneliness. Rossiter emphasizes the critical need for more respite care, currently limited to four hours a week, which she often spends sleeping to recover from fatigue. She advocates for government support to help caregivers maintain their roles without sacrificing their own well-being. The report calls for increased financial support for family carers, including abolishing the carer's allowance means test and increasing payments to €325 per week.