Robison Urged On Dementia Care Plan
Amanda Kopel has petitioned the Scottish Parliament to make free personal care to be made available to younger sufferers.
The wife of late footballer Frank Kopel will today ask the Health Secretary to make free personal care available to younger dementia sufferers like her husband.
Kopel, who played for Dundee United and Manchester United, was diagnosed with dementia aged 59 and wife Amanda paid out £1,200 a month until he died just weeks after he qualified for free personal care on his 65th birthday.
Mrs Kopel has petitioned the Scottish Parliament to make free personal care to be made available to younger sufferers, in a campaign she has dubbed "Frank's Law'', and will take her fight to Health Secretary and Dundee MSP Shona Robison in a meeting today.
Writing in The Courier, Mrs Kopel said: “Dementia is a disease of the brain, not of age. It can come to anyone's door.
“This is something I feel very passionate about. I could have just sat back but there are other people going through the same heartache we went through.
“I have no words to describe how painful it was watching what happened to Frankie.
“I hope those making the decision regarding 'Frank's Law' never have to walk in our shoes.
“If they did, and they experienced even a quarter of what we and other younger people have, they would soon pass it.”