We wanted to tell you something good for a change because reading the papers can often be so depressing.

Our mother is almost 90 and needs a lot of help these days. Her memory is failing her badly and she could not cope at home without all the help she gets.

My sister and I can deal with the constant phone calls from her and with our care and two visits a day from home-helps we can manage during the days.

The last thing we want is for mother to go into a residential home and we do worry about the future.

Last year, we realised she really needed someone there at night as well and we couldn't afford expensive live-in nurses. Anyway, they can change every few weeks and we thought this may upset and confuse our mother.

It was around this time I read a small paragraph in The Argus mentioning a local scheme called Homeshare, which gets a helper to live in. This prompted us to investigate.

The helpers are there every night but are free to go out to work during the day. They get the benefit of a home in return for up to ten hours' work a week.

We weren't sure at first - who on earth would be suitable? But Homeshare found a really lovely helper, who stayed for more than six months. When her time came to an end and she moved away, we were so pleased when Homeshare was able to find someone to take over.

This second helper is from New Zealand, is very caring and has lots of energy to help our mother while still able to pursue her own work and interests.

They get on really well and it is lovely to see our mother have the security and companionship which also keeps her in her familiar surroundings at home.

The co-ordinators took special care to interview our mother at length to achieve a good match of personalities and it was reassuring that the scheme is funded by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Thank goodness there is another option for people like us.

-M King, Rowan Avenue, Hove; V Goble, Raphael Road, Hove