We live in a large farmhouse on the edge of a small village, some thirteen miles south of Norwich, on the edge of the Waveney Valley. The household consists of myself and my 89 year old husband, with members of the family visiting from time to time. My husband is fairly frail and has a limited degree of dementia. He is not yet at the stage of needing nursing care, but is too absent-minded to be left alone for long, and not at all at night. I am 86 and do my best to keep things going.

We have a number of pet dogs and cats, and I would hope to have help feeding and exercising them. We also have a few horses in a stable yard and the paddocks round the house, but these are dealt with by my daughter, who lives in a converted barn next to the main house.

I have help with house cleaning when it can be arranged but would hope to have some help with housework. I also have a professional carer for three hours on weekdays, but she is currently away recovering from an operation. She is a lively fifty - year - old, of whom we are very fond, so it would be good if anyone we took on could get on with her.

We can offer a bed-sitting room and its own bathroom at the end of our L-shaped house accessed by a separate staircase, but the accommodation is not self-contained, and the cooking facilities would have to be shared (we have an Aga, as you would expect, also oil fired central heating, and open fires). Some help with preparing and cooking meals would be good, but we don’t expect an expert cook.

There is a limited bus service in the village, and we are prepared to give lifts to bus or train stations, but obviously the ownership of a car makes life in the countryside more enjoyable.

With my husband often absent-minded or withdrawn, I am looking for cheerful companionship (though not necessarily close friendship) and consistent support.  

Salary and hours negotiable.

References will be required.

Please apply with CV to Box No.