Christine lives with her three children, Elizabeth, George and Louise. Following the unexpected death of her husband in December 2001, she has been offered practical support into the home, so that she can continue to look after her children. It has been a long struggle, getting the right support package into the home, and here, we tell Christine's story. Christine's story identifies how communication is vital, particularly when so many organisations are involved. She has been able to express her needs through the help of her advocate and her extended family. Looking back on the service, difficulties have occurred at times when there is communication breakdown. In order to foster good communication within the home, the immediate support group works best with as few people as possible. Everyone's roles and responsibilities need to be clear, and as members of the group change, group members and their managers need to be reminded of these. As Christine has felt that she is more valued, so her skills have grown and improved. This story ends with a list of what seem to have been the vital ingredients of this support package. We hope that this information will be helpful to other families and service providers.