Mother and Daughter take their Memory Walk 2020 to the village of Kilcreggan

Wendy Watson and her daughter Claire from Kilcreggan, West of Scotland are joining Memory Walk Big Weekend 2020 in honour of 92-year-old Catherine who lives with vascular dementia. 

Catherine, Wendy’s Mother in law and Claire’s Granny, used to enjoy looking out to the River Clyde from her flat as the boats sailed by, and now residing at Lochside Care Home, Catherine still enjoys this view today which makes Kilcreggan’s Lochside walk the perfect Memory Walk location for them.

Wendy shared her long-term connection to Alzheimer Scotland by telling us,

“My links to Alzheimer Scotland go back almost 14 years. My uncle, Andrew Ferguson, received his diagnosis and for us the journey began in caring for someone with dementia.

Initially I had no real understanding of his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and it was over the next six years that we began to grasp what a life changing thing dementia is.”

Wendy’s uncle received support from Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Resource Centre in Helensburgh and Wendy tells us how that impacted them and the help they have since received for other relatives,

“He died at home on the 5th May 2012. Without the help, understanding and patience of the staff in Helensburgh we would not have been able to give him the care he deserved.

Since then, other relatives have also received a diagnosis. My mother-in-law, Catherine, who we are walking for this September, has Vascular Dementia. Catherine is in her 93rd year and now lives in Lochside Care Home.

 I have found the help of Anne Marie, Sue, Jean and Victoria from the Dementia Resource Centre invaluable at a very difficult time. Having someone at the end of a phone for advice, a friendly and understanding voice and the huge amount of support I got helped make a very difficult situation manageable.”

 

Alzheimer Scotland have Dementia Resource Centres in 21 different locations across Scotland. Those centres provide a safe environment for people with dementia and their carers to visit. Our Centres offer friendly, accessible environments for everyone to enjoy. Whether you want to pop-in for some information, advice or support, our friendly staff and volunteers will be able to help you. Each Dementia Resource Centre is also a base for our wide range of local groups and activities.

Our newly refurbished Dementia Resource Centres follow the principles of dementia friendly design and strive to create a local feel, creating a sense of homeliness which we know is important in helping everyone to feel at ease.

Thanks to regular supporters like Wendy and Claire, Alzheimer Scotland can continue to provide these vital centres for communities in Scotland.

Memory Walk Big Weekend is all about your walk, your way. Wherever you are in the country you can get together with loved ones and walk with us between 19-20 September. Wendy’s final piece of advice is to “Get the T shirt and have fun!”

You can register for the Memory Walk Big Weekend today for free

Support Wendy and Claire on her JustGiving page here