Football’s Jimmy goes public on Alzheimer’s
JIMMY Calderwood can be an inspiration for dementia suffers across Scotland after revealing he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.
The 62-year-old has revealed that he has been living with the illness for two years.
Calderwood is the latest high-profile football figure to be struck by dementia following the news that Celtic legend Billy McNeill and Rangers hero Jimmy Millar are also suffering with the condition.
And Jim Pearson, the Director of Policy and Research at Alzheimer Scotland, hopes the decision to make his condition public will help in the battle against the disease.
He said: “People are still not talking openly about dementia. They don’t know what to do about it.
“When they do go to their GP, they are not quite sure whether they are going to be offered any help. It’s a hard decision for anybody.
“It’s even harder for somebody who comes from that background, who perhaps has a bit of hero status and is regarded so highly within their community. There are additional barriers there.
“So we need to continue to promote better conversations around dementia. We need to make sure that people know what is available to them in Scotland.
“We do have what are regarded across the world as some of the most leading dementia policies. One of those is a commitment to provide everybody who has a diagno- sis with a period of post-diagnosis support that lasts for at least a year.
“The idea is that you have somebody who works you with over a period of a year or more to help you come to terms with that diagnosis and help people work through that. So there’s a lot we can do to support people.”
Calderwood was born in Glasgow and started his playing career with Birmingham City before moving to Holland and enjoying spells at Sparta Rotterdam, Willem II, Roda JC and Heracles Almelo.
He enjoyed success as a boss with Dunfermline and Aberdeen and also had stints at Kilmarnock, Ross County before returning to Holland.
The football world have sent messages of support and Calderwood said: “It’s more for these people at Alzhemier’s Scotland. The diagnosis was made around two years ago but I’ve decided it’s time to go public and hopefully I can help other people.”
Calderwood was joined by partner Yvonne in Glasgow as he came public about his battle. She said: “His mind set every day when he gets up is the same, he doesn’t dwell on the illness at all.
“He never moans or complains. He is always laughing and joking.
“When his team gets beat he doesn’t like that but apart from that his mind set is very positive and that is what keeps him going.”
The Evening Times has launched a year-long campaign, which aims to shine a light on a condition, which is predicted to affect one in three of the population in future decades.