A psychiatric nurse has told how her 93-year-old blind mum is suffering terrifying hallucinations in a care home without vital family contact.
Elizabeth Duff believes the Scottish Government is “paralysed by fear” after initial Covid-19 outbreaks and needs to urgently expand safe visiting procedures.
She has been forced to watch mum Wilma Kinnaird’s shocking deterioration at Rannoch Lodge Nursing Home in Cumbernauld since lockdown began.
She said: “Between March and July, I wasn’t allowed to see her at all. Since then, I have been allowed just four or five garden visits at a social distance.
“It has been heartbreaking to see the decline in my mum’s wellbeing. She has lost weight, isn’t eating and her head is down all the time – it is as if she has given up.
“With the eating, for example, that is something I could’ve been in there helping with.
“The care home is doing its best. But family support just can’t be replicated.”
Wilma – a great-gran of three, gran of eight and mum of four – has been a resident at the home for two years.
Elizabeth, 62, from Cumbernauld, also previously gave vital care to her mum for her hallucinations.
She added: “Mum developed late-onset blindness, which brings hallucinations. Some are terrifying.”
Many families believe the regulations are too restrictive and dozens have lobbied MSPs to improve arrangements.
Cathie Russell, of campaign group Care Home Relatives Scotland, said: “We need action because time is running out for a lot of people.”
