A 90-year-old care worker says she ‘doesn’t feel old’ and she has no plans to retire

Care worker, 90, who gets mistaken for a resident at nursing home insists she ‘doesn’t feel old’ and has no plans to retire

By Gwyneth Rees for MailOnline

Published: 17:45 GMT, 8 December 2022 | Updated: 17:45 GMT, 8 December 2022

A 90-year-old carer who works in an old people’s home has revealed she has ‘no intention’ of giving up work – even though she is often mistaken for a resident. 

Nonagenarian Mary Houghton is still spending her days working at Tudor Bank Nursing Home in Southport, Merseyside, after beginning her career at the seaside town’s hospital in 1948 before entering caring after retiring from the NHS.

In 2019 her dedication was recognised with the National Care Award Lifetime achievement award – but last Thursday as she carried on work she also scooped the 2022 Caring UK Awards lifetime achievement trophy.

And she told the BBC that caring was ‘not a job’ to her as she loved it so much, despite occasionally being mistaken for a resident. 

Mary Houghton, 90, (pictured with her award) still works as a part-time carer in a home for elderly residents in Southport

This week hardworking and generous Mary said: ‘I feel honoured and humble. The award is ridiculous really but being a carer is not a job to me; I really love it.

‘I tried retirement when I was 60 and lasted a week. I’ll keep going until they stop me. It’s not work to me – it’s an honour.’

She has recently gone from working 40 hours a week to part-time, doing two 12-hour shifts-a-week, when she hit her 90th birthday – but is refusing to call it quits completely.

Mrs Houghton came to the UK from Ireland when she was 16 and started working at Southport Hospital, eventually getting promoted to an auxiliary nurse.

Mary, who was born in Ireland, explained how helping other people makes her fell young and doesn’t feel like work at all 

She worked there until she retired at the age of 60 but her retirement only lasted a week before she got a job as a carer at Tudor Bank and has worked there ever since.

Working there for three decades has ‘always been an honour’, she told the BBC and quipped that she has often been mistaken for a resident.

But Mary added that she has had no qualms about caring for residents younger than herself and working with younger staff, adding: ‘I don’t feel old because they don’t make me feel old.

‘The main thing about caring is to get their trust, and if you get their trust you’re well on your way.

‘I’m from County Mayo in Ireland and my mother said ‘you have to go when you’re 16 as there’s no work here.’

Nursing home colleague Jessica Hughes is the youngest member of staff and said Mary is an inspiration to her, adding: ‘I’ve been working for 10 years now but Mary’s been here a lot longer but I’m hoping – maybe not 90 – but I hope I can keep going like she has done.’

The nursing home manager Joshy Abraham said the young-at-heart Mrs Houghton had been his mentor, adding: ‘Mary’s an inspiration to all the staff. She’s young at heart. She’s a role model.’

Mrs Houghton said she had no idea she had been nominated for an award at last week’s ceremony in Leicester and had gone along to support Tudor Bank’s nomination in the Care Home of the Year North category.

Although the nursing home did not win an award, she said she was delighted at the surprise Lifetime Achievement Award and felt ‘humbled to be recognised in this way’.

Caring UK said: ‘We chose Mary for this award as she has devoted her life to care.

‘She is a truly inspirational lady and brings dedication and commitment to the workplace, always on hand to support the younger and newer team members to ensure not only that they know what they are doing, but more importantly they enjoy what they are doing.’ 

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