Latest news with #AlzheimerScotland
Scotsman
27-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
17 pictures of the Edinburgh Marathon 2025
First held in 1982, the annual event has sold out every year for the last 17 years, and is the second largest marathon in the UK. Thousands of runners take part every year, with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival supporting a number of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer Scotland, the British Heart Foundation and the MS Society.
The Herald Scotland
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Frank's Law: 71,000 people benefit from 'Milestone' law
She was successful in 2019 when Frank's Law was introduced, extending free personal care to those under 65. Mrs Kopel had argued the rules discriminated against those with disabilities and degenerative conditions. Read More: Now, Conservative MSP Miles Briggs has received a written response from the Scottish Government showing more than 71,000 people have benefitted from Frank's Law since it was introduced. Support from Mr Briggs and former SNP health secretary Alex Neil was instrumental in passing the law. Mrs Kopel said: 'I am overwhelmed to hear that Frank's Law has helped so many people in Scotland to access free personal care. 'It's humbling to think of the difference our campaign has made to the lives of more than 71,000 families. Undated family handout photo of Amanda Kopel and her husband Frank (Image: Amanda Kopel) 'I can never thank enough all the people who helped me in the fight for justice to end the blatant discrimination against the under-65s – especially the people in Scotland living with dementia, whose shoes I had walked in. 'It was all in honour of my soulmate Frankie, whose battle against dementia, was far harder than any battle I went through.' Mr Briggs, who represents the Lothians region, said: 'I'm very happy that I was able to help Amanda's battle for free personal care for dementia patients like her husband Frank. 'For too long many people under 65 were left to fight for access to vital care and health services at the very time they needed the health system to support them. 'In many cases this resulted in poorer outcomes for individuals and drove many families to despair.' The charity Alzheimer Scotland presented Mrs Kopel with a lifetime achievement award in 2019 in recognition of her efforts. Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, described her as 'an inspiration'.
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Widow of ex-footballer 'overwhelmed' as Frank's Law helps 71,000 Scots receive free care
Frank's Law campaigner Amanda Kopel campaigned for six years to introduce the law in memory of her footballer husband, Dundee United's Frank Kopel. Widow and Frank's Law campaigner Amanda Kopel says she is 'overwhelmed' as figures show the law she campaigned for has helped 71,000 Scots receive free personal care. Mrs Kopel campaigned for six years to introduce the law in memory of her footballer husband – Dundee United's Frank Kopel who died in 2014 aged 65 after being diagnosed with dementia. She was successful in 2019 when Frank's Law was introduced, extending free personal care to those under 65. Mrs Kopel had argued the rules discriminated against those with disabilities and degenerative conditions. Now, Conservative MSP Miles Briggs has received a written response from the Scottish Government showing more than 71,000 people have benefitted from Frank's Law since it was introduced. Support from Mr Briggs and former SNP health secretary Alex Neil was instrumental in passing the law. Mrs Kopel said: 'I am overwhelmed to hear that Frank's Law has helped so many people in Scotland to access free personal care. 'It's humbling to think of the difference our campaign has made to the lives of more than 71,000 families. 'I can never thank enough all the people who helped me in the fight for justice to end the blatant discrimination against the under-65s – especially the people in Scotland living with dementia, whose shoes I had walked in. 'It was all in honour of my soulmate Frankie, whose battle against dementia, was far harder than any battle I went through.' Mr Briggs, who represents the Lothians region, said: 'I'm very happy that I was able to help Amanda's battle for free personal care for dementia patients like her husband Frank. 'For too long many people under 65 were left to fight for access to vital care and health services at the very time they needed the health system to support them. 'In many cases this resulted in poorer outcomes for individuals and drove many families to despair.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. The charity Alzheimer Scotland presented Mrs Kopel with a lifetime achievement award in 2019 in recognition of her efforts. Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, described her as 'an inspiration'.
Scotsman
26-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Edinburgh to get UK's second outdoor centre for people with dementia after success of pioneering initiative in Cairngorms
A new outdoor centre for people with dementia is to be launched next month in the grounds of Edinburgh's Lauriston Castle. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Studies suggest that contact with the natural world can offer comfort, stimulation and a sense of freedom and meaning for people living with dementia. And the centre will offer a wide range of nature-based pastimes and sessions such as gardening, reminiscence, outdoor relaxation, all designed to support participants as their needs evolve over time. Contact with nature can offer comfort, stimulation and a sense of freedom and meaning for people living with dementia. | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It will be only the second outdoor dementia centre in the UK and it has been inspired by the success of the first, at Badaguish in the Cairngorms National Park. Gillian Councill, of Alzheimer Scotland, which is behind the project, said: 'We are delighted to announce the development of our second Outdoor Brain Health & Dementia Resource Centre at Lauriston Castle. Following our successful experiences at Badaguish, we understand the profoundly positive impact such spaces have." The Badaguish centre opened two years ago as one of the National Park's 20 projects making up the Cairngorms 2030 programme, made possible through funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. And it has become a hub for all sorts of activities and workshops inspired by the natural environment and changing seasons. Lauriston Lodge has been decorated inside in a style which will likely be familiar to those attending the centre. | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Councill said as their abilities reduced, people with dementia were less likely to get outside. "We were speaking to a lot of people who had spent their whole lives doing things in the outdoors and spending time in nature. People were saying they loved to go for walks but were worried they might get lost in the woods or were just generally finding things a bit more difficult. So we made it our goal to create a space where people could be supported to spend time in nature again. "Gardening is a really good activity because it's so accessible - people can engage in it in lots of different ways, from really getting stuck in and digging to very light touch, like smelling herbs." There are also music and art sessions inspired by nature and an all-ability cycling session, with a fleet of adapted bikes. And the therapeutic benefits of nature are not restricted to the participants themselves, with sessions also offering loved ones a welcome chance to take time for themselves, often going for walks with other carers. A red phone box and bus stop in the garden are intended to spark memories and conversation. | supplied Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Similar activities are likely to feature in the programme at Lauriston Castle, but Ms Councill said it would depend what people wanted. "We've talked about maybe gentle outdoor yoga, for example, but it's important to let the programme evolve based on demand locally." In addition to the outdoor activities, the new centre has the renovated Lauriston Lodge and the neighbouring Forget-Me-Not garden. The main room in the lodge has been decorated in a mid-century style that will likely be familiar to many of the people who will use the centre, and will help spark memories and conversations. The dementia-friendly design also extends to a red phone box and bus stop in the garden. And there is a glass-sided summer house which will allow them to look out on nature even when the weather is not good enough for venturing too far outside. Ms Councill said: 'Our new site is poised to become a haven where people will be able to immerse themselves in the restorative power of nature.'
Scotsman
25-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
13 pictures of the Edinburgh Marathon 2025
First held in 1982, the annual event has sold out every year for the last 17 years, and is the second largest marathon in the UK. Thousands of runners take part every year, with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival supporting a number of charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer Scotland, the British Heart Foundation and the MS Society.
