Grandson’s praise for Ruby’s caring team
A Perth man has paid a touching tribute to the carers and health service staff who spent years looking after his late grandmother.
Beloved Robina ‘Ruby’ Graham (81), who suffered from dementia and angina, was visited in her Gannochy home by carers four times a day for five years.
Staff from Kippen Care Services, Perth Homecare services, My Care Tayside and the PKC’s HART team all tended to her wellbeing and provided her with medication, washed and dressed her.
However, Robina passed away last month due to a cardiac arrest and now eldest grandson Gavin Doris (29) has come out to praise those who looked after her in her final years, including the paramedics who attempted to resuscitate her.
He said: “She had dementia for the past five years of her life, and that is when she got her carers in.
“It takes a lot for someone to go in get somebody out their bed in the morning, wash and dress them, organise them, give them their pills, go away, then come back at lunchtime to take them to the toilet and clean them up.
“That is a lot of work. tried to resuscitate her and failed.
“It is a hard job to do - mentally and physically.
“When people in care die I don’t think these carers get an appreciation from some families who think ‘it’s just another carer’ - but I take my hat off to them.
“We had seven of her carers at the funeral so it just shows that they are willing to take time off their own day to pay their respects.
“I wanted to thank the carers, who were from Perth Homecare services, My Care Tayside, Kippen Care, PKC’s HART team and the social worker she had, Laura Scott.
“Thank you to the council for making a package of care, organising for carers to come in four times a day and actually funding it.
“Also to Dr Hepburn at Murray Royal Hospital.
“I’d like to say thank you to them and the paramedics, not just the ones that performed CPR, because there had been many a paramedic out to her house.
“She had chest pain in the past because of her angina, so they [paramedics] have cared for her and taken her into the hospital.”
Gavin said he had “a very close relationship” with his gran and that she was an important part of his life.
He said: “She was there for me throughout the highs and lows.
“She listened to me when I needed to talk to someone and I will remember it forever.
“I will always remember her funny side. She would try and get me to sneak sweets into PRI for her, even though she wasn’t allowed them.
“She always asked for a kiss on the cheek before I left.
“She was an amazing, beautiful woman and I am proud to call her my gran and I will miss her so much.”