The spouse of Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear has opened up about the heartache of witnessing his cherished partner “gradually slipping away” following her diagnosis with dementia.
Scott Brand has candidly discussed his journey as part of a fresh initiative by the Alzheimer’s Society, which includes a television commercial narrated by acclaimed British actor Colin Firth.
Entitled “The Long Goodbye,” the advertisement poignantly portrays the cruel trajectory of the illness, which compels family members to endure the emotional toll of witnessing their loved ones “dying again, and again, and again.”
Brand said:
“I miss the fun-loving wife that Julie had always been – the larger-than-life personality that brightened up everywhere she went, and the smile that lit up every room.
“All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration.
“Julie now struggles recognising people and everyone she meets is called ‘Scott’.
“Not being able to spontaneously go out as husband and wife, holding hands as we stroll along, going for meals together and going shopping – all these losses for me symbolise the Long Goodbye.”
The 81-year-old former actress, famed for her iconic leopard-print attire and dazzling presence both in front of the camera and off-screen, has seen her enthusiasm for personal style wane due to dementia, according to her husband.
“Julie has always been extremely glamorous, going nowhere without her makeup.
“But now the lipsticks and make-up go unworn, and clothes are no longer of interest, especially the leopard print,” Brand said.
Brand, Goodyear’s fourth husband, tied the knot with her in 2007.
He revealed he initially “refused to accept any support” after Goodyear’s diagnosis before realising “I couldn’t do it by myself”.
“I had to give up work to become Julie’s full-time carer,” he said.
“I wasn’t coping and needed to seek support.
“Caring for Julie is my priority, but my health was being affected and as a lone carer I felt it was ‘killing me’.
“Julie had always dealt with the finances but now she cannot even recognise the value of money,” he added.
“I was suddenly thrown into having to sort out all the household affairs, something Julie had always managed with ease and perfection.
“It was like being thrown into a new world of having to do everything by myself.
“I would advise anyone going through this journey to accept help straight away.”
Kate Lee, chief executive officer of Alzheimer’s Society, said:
“This campaign seeks to tell the unvarnished truth about the devastation caused by dementia and it is very much informed by people affected by the condition.
“The loved ones of people with dementia often describe it as a ‘living grief’ as, bit by bit, the disease’s relentless progression causes part of the person to die…again and again and again.
“But there is hope.
“Alzheimer’s Society, through its support services, is there for people affected again and again as they face the grim reality of the long goodbye.”
“Dementia” encompasses a range of symptoms linked to a progressive decline in brain function, as outlined by the NHS. It impacts memory, cognitive abilities, and various mental functions.
