Springers – School Journal Level 4 May 2019

“Springers” is a fictional story set in a rest home, where George and his daughter are visiting his elderly mum. Meredith has dementia, although it’s not clear to what degree: at times her strong mind and character shine through, at others, she seems childlike and resigned to the loss of autonomy that many people in rest homes experience. This is a subtle story, carefully observed, that sheds a gentle light on the way ageing can impact on families.

Keywords: autonomy, caring, dementia, dependence, families, frogs, grandparents, health, independence, memories, metaphor, old age, parents, relationships, retirement,