I look at my mother. She’s tiny and frail, but lifting her would be hard on my back. And then what? Will the carer ask me to help while she cleans her? Involving some kind of adult nappy?

Feeding her like a baby is one thing. Changing her nappy is quite another. It’s at least 50 years since she changed mine. I’ve had enough of this role reversal.

‘I think I’d rather leave it to the experts, if you don’t mind.’

The carer stands for a moment, staring at me. I’m uncomfortable. I can feel a blush rising up my neck.

‘All right then,’ she says, and leaves the room in search of more useful people.

I take a last look at my mother. I could kiss her goodbye, but what’s the point? I turn away, and leave her for the carer to sort out. She knows what she’s doing.

All through the long drive home, I think about my mother’s life, and mine, and how I can avoid ending up like her.

Winifred

My name is Winifred.

Last week I started work at Evergreen Care Home, Dorking, Surrey.

We have been learning how to care for the elderly people who live there.

‘We’ means all of us who are new.

The people who used to work here have all left now, except for their manager. She is still here to reassure the relatives of the residents that everything will be done properly.

I’m not sure why they need to be reassured. Things are going to get much better for the residents now.

But it is true that all the relatives are middle-aged, and middle-aged people often find change unsettling.

This will also apply to our manager, though. She is called Janet Goodenough. She is an English woman aged 48. She has worked here for many years. I think the changes will be difficult for her.

She is 1m 58cm tall and weighs 80kg. This is too much for her height. I think she must have gained the weight recently because all her clothes are too small and squeeze her tight. She has not had time to buy new ones that fit, perhaps.

*

Today Stephen Jordan, the Chief Executive Officer of Eldercare, the company that now owns and runs Evergreen, is coming here with the Chief Scientific Officer, Angela Morton.

We have all met Dr Morton many times, of course. But we have only seen Mr Jordan from afar, and briefly. It will be interesting to meet him properly.

They are coming to address the relatives of the residents here. They have news for them.

They will be introducing us, the new team of carers. We are interested to see how they react.

We are different from the previous team of carers. We expect this will be welcomed by the relatives.