Scott Mitchell – the widower of Alzheimer’s sufferer Dame Barbara Windsor – spoke to ITV News Scotland Reporter Louise Scott on a tour of a new outdoor dementia research centre in Edinburgh
Scott Mitchell was married to Dame Barbara Windsor for 14 years before she was diagnosed with dementia. He became her primary carer until she passed away six years later.
Scott is now an Alzheimer’s ambassador and has travelled to Scotland to learn more about a new pioneering initiative which helps people with dementia and their carers to experience the benefits of spending time in nature.
ITV News joined Scott in Edinburgh as he was given an exclusive tour of the UK’s second outdoor dementia resource centre, ahead of its official opening this week.
It has been inspired by the success of the first pioneering centre, in the Cairngorms National Park, which opened two years ago as part of the Cairngorms 2030 programme, in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland.
These purpose-built centres provide a range of nature-focused activities including gardening, cycling, arts and music and aim to provide a space of calm and respite for those impacted by the disease.
Scott says he wants to see more of these specially designed spaces rolled out across the country.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful,” he told ITV News. “This is something that needs to be rolled out all over the UK.
“We all know that being outside, being in nature, it’s so good for you. It relieves stress, it can relieve depression, and all these things that come along with dementia, either for the person living with it or their carers.
“It’s very stressful. It’s isolating. It can feel very frustrating, very stressful at times. So to come to a space like this, it’s just magical.”
The design of the outdoor centre includes elements like a bus stop and a traditional red telephone box to evoke memories and conversations, something Scott believes Barbara would have loved.
He said: “Number one, she loved flowers. So straight away she would have been struck by all the colours. But I know that there would definitely have been a remark about the bus stop… she would have most likely marked out Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square.
“Her dad was actually a bus conductor, so I know that that would have evoked that memory for her… and I think that is the most fantastic thing about this place, is it’s going to evoke so many memories for the people who are coming here.
“Honestly, I think it’s gold what you’ve got up here.”
Scott tried to take Barbara outdoors as much as possible, but privacy was an issue, which is why he believes these new specially designed centres are invaluable.
He believes outdoor spaces like this will help allow more people with dementia and their carers to get outdoors safely, as they will be surrounded by people who understand.
“A difficult thing with Barbara, someone that’s so recognisable, so loved, that it was hard to go out and walk on the streets and not have people want to come up and talk to her,” he explained. “So a space like this for me would have been ideal.
“This has specifically been made for that purpose, where I’m going to mix with other people who are going through the same thing, because unless you’ve gone through it, unless you’re caring for someone, it’s a very hard thing to explain.
“I think if I would have had this, it could have made things so much easier.”
Almost five years after losing Barbara, Scott says she is still a driving force in his life and he is determined to continue campaigning against dementia in her name.
“There were times that were so stressful, so painful mentally… watching someone I love be taken by this cruel disease was just unbearable,” he said.
“And I just remember I used to think I can’t stop what’s happening to her but if one day we can use her name to raise awareness, to make a difference, to maybe make changes, then that’s what I’m going to do. Her legacy continues very much in the world of dementia.”
The success of the first centre in the Cairngorms has inspired Alzheimer Scotland to bring the idea to Edinburgh, but they hope this is just the beginning and would also like to see more introduced across the UK.
Centre co-ordinator Kenny Wright said: “The vision is that people living with dementia, in any setting, can access nature.
“That might be people who are living at home or perhaps going to a day service in quite an urban environment or even people in hospital wards who can’t get outside at all. But by having resources and tools that they can use to engage with nature across the UK, I think would be fantastic.
“During a cycling session, one of our participants said ‘this has changed my life – I can go cycling again.’ This drives home the importance of this project. We are helping people to get back to the things that have been a big part of their life.”
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