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TV presenter Ruth Langsford 'grieving' father suffering from Alzheimer's
Anna Davis26 Mar 2009
THIS Morning host Ruth Langsford today described the emotional toll of coping with a parent suffering from Alzheimer's.
Langsford, 49, who lives with her partner Eamonn Holmes, said she has to fight back tears on screen when she thinks about her father's 13-year battle with the disease.
Speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard, Langsford said she was forced to organise a care home for father Dennis when she realised her 74-year-old mother Joan couldn't cope.
Mr Langsford, 82, is now in a care home in Lingfield, Surrey, and does not recognise his daughter.
Presenter Langsford, who lives in Weybridge, is the latest celebrity to speak about her family's battle with Alzheimer's disease in a bid to raise awareness of the problem.
This week actor Kevin Whately shared the story of his 83-year-old mother Mary's struggle with Alzheimer's in a documentary, and last month newscaster John Suchet spoke about his wife Bonnie's illness.
Langsford said: "It was very hard to step in to help my mum. Hell would freeze over before she admitted she couldn't cope, but he was incontinent and was flushing his pyjamas down the toilet.
"When someone dies it is very difficult but you can move on and have closure. But with Alzheimer's it is as if you are grieving for the person you have lost, yet they are still alive."
Alzheimer's disease affects about 417,000 people in Britain.
No single factor has been identified as causing it but a combination of factors, including age, genes, environment, diet and overall general health, are thought responsible. In Britain, there are 15,000 under the age of 65 with dementia, which includes Alzheimer's.
Langsford will take part in the Bupa London 10,000 - a 10-kilometre run to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society across London in May.
She accidentally revealed her father had Alzheimer's after bursting into tears on air two years ago. She said: "I never intended to talk about my father. We were doing a phone-in on guilt and a woman called to say she felt guilty because she was dreading her husband coming home from a respite centre for Alzheimer's disease. I started saying my dad has Alzheimer's and my voice broke and I burst into tears.
"But I don't want to break down on TV any more. I can feel the lump in my throat but I fight it back.
"I do struggle with it but I steel myself and tell myself people are in worse situations. At least I can hold his hand and kiss his head, even if we sit in silence.
"I know it sounds corny but you do have to try to laugh instead of crying.
"Last week I was with my dad watching TV and a trailer for Eamonn's latest show came on and he started pointing at the screen.
"But when he saw me on TV he said: 'Oh no! I can't be doing with her!'"
Scientists revealed last week they are close to finding new drugs to treat the disease.
Langsford added: "I hold huge hope in the advances of medicine, which is why I am working to fund-raise for the Alzheimer's Society. I believe they will find a way of treating the disease and slowing it down."
The entry deadline for the Bupa London 10,000 is Friday 17 April.
Reader views (2)
My mother suffered with Alzheimers for over 10 years. The amount of help we had was non existent. As soon as the authorities ie NHS and Social Services discovered she had her own home we were left to fend for ourselves as she was "self funding"! We had to sell her house to obtain care for her and were pushed from pillar to post to find out information and assistance. Initiall we had care givers in the home supplied by Social Services which we had to pay for. They stole all her jewellry and what few little trinkets she had. They refused to wash her hair or put her in the bath as this might hurt their backs! She was left filthy and dirty. Complaints to Social Services made no difference. We had no alternative but to put her in a care home. As the only one we could find was 2 miles beyond her county area, Warwickshire and was in Birmingham the final insult was that after 44 years of living in Solihull, when she was buried they insisted on her paying an out of county burial cost!
- Jacqueline Ebdy, Smallfield, Surrey, 27/03/2009 06:29
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Well Ruth; you are far from being alone with Alzheimer's in the family.
The vast majority get no help at all from the Government or the NHS.
I once went on the Alzheimer's Society’s forum; you might have noticed that there are not many people on that forum either; I wonder why?
You will find that we have a lot of talkers about Alzheimer's disease; but very few doers that actually give any help at all.
I have found that you have to do it all alone, or pass the victim over to others, to do for you.
If I have a beef with anyone over the Alzheimer's problem; it’s the sheer hypocrisy of those that profess to care; I personally prefer the real truth; warts and all.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 26/03/2009 13:43
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