An Angus carer has asked MSPs to spend a day in her life as part of her dementia and Alzheimer’s campaign.
Amanda Kopel, from Angus, is fighting for change that will give dementia sufferers who are under 65, like her husband, former Dundee United player Frank Kopel, the chance to claim free personal care.
Earlier this weekshe took her campaign to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee and spoke about early onset dementia and the strain on carers like her.
She told MSPs she has lost her husband although he is still alive and said he can no longer sit down on his own never mind kick a ball like he used too.
Amanda said: “I just spoke from the heart. It was emotional but it was an experience.
“I think it was something new for the committee and I wondered how many of them were aware of early onset dementia.
“They were quite shocked when I told them I only get £3.81 a day in carer’s allowance.
“They said the age thing was definitely an issue that they needed to do something about and they all seemed to be in total agreement about that.
“We will see if their words are followed by actions.”
Amanda invited all the committee members to her Kirriemuir home to see for themselves what a day in their life is like.
She said: “I did ask every one of them to come and live in our house for 24 hours to get an insight into how it is.
“I do hope even one of them takes me up on my offer. If they walk in our shoes for a day, then they will understand and try to do something about it.”
She was joined at the committee by Frank’s dementia consultant, who answered questions during their 30-minute slot.
She told the committee more and more younger people are being diagnosed with the condition and, despite hopes for a breakthrough, there is still no cure for the illness.
Amanda said: “Thirty minutes is not long but it is the first step in our journey to try and get this age discrimination stopped.
“I am asking and begging and pleading for change. I don’t feel embarrassed for that because I am speaking up for Frankie and others who don’t have a voice.
“I have done the spade work and now I can only keep my fingers crossed something good will come out of it sooner rather than later.”
Although any change will likely come too late to help Frank, who has deteriorated in recent weeks, Amanda said it will make a “tremendous difference” to people in the same situation in the future.
She said: “There have to be systems in place so a person with dementia is not left battling the illness while their carers battle officialdom.
“Now I want to make sure I have done everything in my power to make Frank’s quality of life, however long he has left, as good as possible.
Graeme Dey, SNP MSP for Angus South, also attended the committee and said Amanda’s evidence was “thought provoking and was deeply moving”.
He said: “I offered Mrs Kopel some months ago that I would seek to secure her a meeting with Alex Neil.
“I am delighted that she now wants to have such a meeting and that the cabinet secretary has readily agreed to accommodate this.”