Elsie’s strokes were four years ago: “It was a bit overwhelming. I lay in hospital, thinking what’s my life going to be like? What am I going to be able to do? But the staff helped me in doing a lot of things, they kept me active.”

“During the night was the worst time. But then morning came, and it wasn’t too bad, you know. I realised, there was a lot of good things going on, and I’ll be part of it if I can.”

“I think the important thing is to keep active, not to try and sit around, get up and go if you can. I ask myself everyday ‘what can I do to help myself?’ To me this has to do with self-respect.”

Elsie’s husband Billy is her full-time carer: “I try to help Elsie live life as fully as she possibly can, because I always take the view that quality of life is most important.”

Billy and Elsie try to go out most days, for coffee, shopping, to play Bridge or visit friends. Elsie uses an electric scooter outside, which makes it easier to get around. Elsie does crosswords and plays an online word game with her son, who lives abroad. Elsie and Billy had to give up golf, but they like to take a walk around the garden and look at the plants.