Another Scottish council has given its support to Frank’s Law amid a feeling of “frustration” over lack of action.
Dundee United legend Frank Kopel died aged 59 after a six-year battle with dementia and his wife Amanda, backed by The Courier, is campaigning for a fairer care system after the family had to pay for support at home until the final few weeks of the former footballer’s life.
Current guidance is for no one in the last six months of a terminal illness to be charged for the care they receive at home, which Amanda has previously slammed as decision-makers “playing God by predicting when people will pass away”.
The Kopels had to pay about £400 a month for council care services.
Frank died last year and his widow is continuing a campaign to get the Scottish Government to extend free personal care to the under-65s, which has now been backed by Aberdeenshire’s local authority.
Councillor Peter Bellarby proposed the council commend the campaign by Amanda and write to the First Minister requesting her to consider the law’s introduction and for it to be fully funded by the Scottish Government.
He said: “On June 22 2013 Amanda presented a petition to the Scottish Parliament. This is almost two years ago and has been before the committee ever since.
“On March 17 2015 the committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government yet again on the matter as well as to Cosla.
“On May 26 the committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport to give evidence at a future meeting.
“You can see why there is a feeling of frustration at lack of action.
“This is not a political matter. It is about helping those who seem to have been left out in the cold, so to speak, some of whom stay in Aberdeenshire.
“It is about fairness and it is about a decent society.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor Karen Clark.
She said: “This motion has again raised the profile of such an important issue and put the spotlight on getting proper recognition of the personal care needs of dementia sufferers aged under 65.”
The motion was passed unanimously.
Amanda said: “I am delighted that Aberdeenshire Council has agreed to give their support to the campaign for Frank’s Law.
“Free personal care for under-65s would help so many people.
“I think the people making the ultimate decisions about this have forgotten what Frank’s Law is about and it is two words age discrimination.”
Montrose councillor and advocate for Frank’s Law, David May, welcomed the news.
He said: “This means Aberdeenshire now join Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth and Kinross in passing Frank’s Law.”
On Thursday, Alex Salmond quizzed the Scottish Government on its progress towards Frank’s Law, describing current end-of-life care for dementia sufferers as “singularly inappropriate”.
Amanda wrote a moving letter to Mr Salmond outlining the difficulties and ordeals her family went through trying to ensure Frank had a dignified life at home following his diagnosis.