"It's a real genuine respect and kindness," Ralphs said. "It's not an act."

Roger's group is short-staffed on this morning so Ellsworth, who works with another group, pitches in to help. Everyone except Roger feeds themselves. Ellsworth pulls up a chair next to him. She places her left hand behind his neck to steady his head while she gives him spoonfuls of soft scrambled eggs with ketchup, apple sauce, cream of wheat and a blueberry muffin that is the consistency of batter. His food is blended so he can swallow it.

She worries Roger is catching a cold. His voice sounds scratchy. She feels his head and face for a fever. She reluctantly answers questions about her job as she works.

"I think when you work with people who are physically challenged, it just makes you appreciate what you have. I think the more you focus on that, the better the job is. You learn a lot of humility and patience."

"It's a chance to absolutely give back for me at this stage of the game," Ellsworth said. "I have six healthy children and this is just an awesome experience to be with the boys."

Ellsworth notes that both she and Roger are the same age, 50.

"I think about my life, and I think about Roger's . . . "

After breakfast, the five gather around a sink for personal hygiene. On the counter, paper cups hold toothbrushes with the owner's name on the handle. There are hair brushes, combs, shaving cream, razors and a bottle of Calvin Klein's Obsession for men. The cologne, she says, belongs to a certain person.

Judson, who has worked five years at the center, pulls on a pair of rubber gloves and brushes Roger's teeth. She sprays water on his hair and combs it neatly into place. She lathers his face with foamy shaving cream.

"You look like Santa Claus," she tells him.

Roger turns his head this way and that as Judson tries to put the blade to his whiskers. He's like a child whose mother has licked a tissue to wipe a smudge from his face. She steadies his head and talks gently.

"Relax."

"Hold still."

"OK, look at me."

Roger comes through without a nick.

Judson cleans up each person one by one. She removes some potato from Bobby's ear and jokingly tells him to steer clear of the kitchen where she has just returned his breakfast dishes. "Pretty soon they'll be making stew with those potatoes."

Eric is the last to get cleaned up. Judson rubs moisturizer on his dry skin. And for the final touch, a squirt of Obsession.

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E-mail: romboy@desnews.com