A Bearsden man has spoken of his heartbreak caring for his mum as she succumbs to dementia as prepares to walk through Glasgow to raise awareness and funds for the condition.
Alastair Clunie's mother Mary Kathleen Clunie has lived with dementia for three years and is cared for 24/7 by her son. The 46-year-old has cared for Mary, 85, since 2016 when she lost her mobility and was later diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2019.
It’s been a tough journey for the family, only compounded by the loss of Alastair’s father, Jack, last year. Alastair is heartbroken to see the effect dementia has had on his mother, a lifelong dog lover and music fan.
READ MORE: Glasgow foodbank says 'steady increase' in people using service amid cost of living crisis
He said: “ Despite all the health issues she’s had, not just this, but all my life mum hasn’t had the best of health, she’s still fighting on.
“She’s always had something, but she’s got some strong heart. Her mother was the same. She’s had a rich life and that’s why it’s so sad to see her like this now.
“She loved her music and I’ve got music on around the house all the time for her. I don’t know if she hears it, but I love music as well and even played in a pipe band at one time! I don’t know if it helps, but it certainly helps me.”
Alastair’s life was turned upside down when he became his mother’s carer, not least due to his own poor health after he suffered heart failure.
He added: “I gave up my job because I had my father at home. He was not bad for someone in their 80s, but he was of that generation that never really did the shopping or the cooking, so it was down to me.
“I wasn’t long into being my mum’s carer when I got rushed into hospital with heart failure. I’ve had two operations, I’m on medication and I’m doing OK.
“I’ve got great support from my GP and all the way round from my family, but I’ve not got much of a social life anymore. It’s been a huge change to my life, but it’s my mother so it’s got to be done."
On Sunday September 18, Alastair and his nephews Daniel McCormack, 27, and Robert Clunie, 21, will walk from the family home in Bearsden, through the Botanic Gardens, Glasgow’s west end and back.
Although Alastair takes up the bulk of the responsibility for his mother’s care, he has support from family, friends and external carers. While he and his nephews tackle the walk, Alastair’s brother Iain and his partner Jo will stay at home with Mary.
In the early days of Mary’s diagnosis, Alastair called the Alzheimer Scotland 24hr Freephone Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000) for some initial guidance and found the service a true lifeline.
Hammering home the importance of raising funds and awareness for the charity, Alastair commented: “They were great. Don’t get me wrong, everyone’s heard of dementia, everyone’s heard of Alzheimer’s, but I don’t think they actually fully understand how much of an illness it is.
“It can be portrayed as ‘they’ve forgot where they’ve put the car keys’ or ‘they’ve forgot what they had for their dinner’. But the truth is they’re forgetting how to walk, they can’t talk and every body function shuts down.
I don’t think people realise quite how bad it is. I certainly didn’t. I’m the first to admit I’ve learned an awful lot in the last three years.
“Mum got hospitalised with hallucinations and I knew nothing about that. She used to go on about smells like she could hallucinate smells. What kind of illness can do this to a poor soul? It’s got to be one of the most painful things.
“That’s why any little money that can help, I know it’s never going to help mum, but if we can help somebody in the future and understand a little bit more about this illness then the better.”
You can support Alastair’s Memory Walk by donating via his fundraising page here: memorywalk.alzscot.org/alastair-clunie
READ NEXT:
Glasgow charity launches emergency appeal to support victims of Pakistan floods
Vaccine chief claims Covid booster jabs will stop NHS being overrun this winter
Scottish Power offers energy bill cash boost to DWP claimants ahead of new price cap
Lanarkshire biker seriously injured as police probe late-night horror crash
Glasgow bin strikes to continue after new pay offer rejected by unions
