My dad was a gent, the people in homes are just like us
GRAHAM MCLEAN is just one of many who have lost their lives to Covid-19 in Scotland’s care homes.
The 84-year-old had been living with vascular dementia at Wyndwell Care Home in Peterhead for four years.
Mr McLean fell ill with suspected Covid-19 and died on April 11. He is one of several residents to have passed away at the Aberdeenshire facility.
His son Geddes, 53, from Peterhead, said he got a call from the home manager saying his father was being treated in isolation and ‘he wasn’t looking too well’.
He added: ‘Then I got a call to tell me that he had passed away.
‘My dad was an absolute gentleman and I’ll miss him so much. People that are in the care homes are family members. They are the same as you and me and they deserve the same treatment. They need to be looked after.’
Another suspected Covid-19 victim was Bill Campbell, 86, a former merchant navy engineer who was a resident at Erskine Park Home in Bishopton, Renfrewshire, which looks after dementia sufferers. He fell ill with a chest infection, then developed a cough and a high temperature and his condition deteriorated. He died on Easter Sunday.
His daughter, Linda Verlaque, was called to the home to be with him in his final moments. The 51year-old, from Paisley, praised staff for ‘going above and beyond’ to look after him and for ‘doing the best with what they have’.
She said: ‘Right up to the very last minute it was doubtful that I would even be allowed to come in [to the home].
‘We just talked to him about his life and my mum and everything we could fit in until he passed in the early hours of Easter Sunday. It was very peaceful.’
Another suspected Covid-19 victim was Helen Smith, 74, of Almond Court care home Drumchapel, Glasgow, who died on April 12. Mrs Smith had vascular dementia and had been living in the home for four years. Her son, George Hillhouse, said ‘life will never be the same’ without her.
Wearing protective gear, the 52year-old was allowed to be with his mother in the hours before her death.
He said: ‘You’re sitting there with a gown, masks and gloves.
‘It was difficult at the time because I could not reach out to anybody and just get that hug or that cuddle to get support from other family. She was a wee busy body. Mum was the life and soul of the party, always on the go.
‘She cherished her grandkids more than anything. She loved her grandkids.’
Covid-19 was given as the ‘presumed’ cause of death on his mother’s death certificate. However, Mr Hillhouse believes she did not die of the virus directly but succumbed to other health problems.