Loose Women panelist Coleen Nolan has opened up about dementia in her family in a new interview.
Her mum, Maureen, died in 2007 aged 81 and spent her final five years living with Alzheimer’s. Despite looking after her, Coleen’s mother was unable to recognise the star towards the end.
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan reveals ‘biggest fear’
In a new interview with BBC Radio Stoke, Coleen, who moved to a farm in North Staffordshire last year, admitted her “biggest fear” is to be diagnosed with dementia.
While she doesn’t have the disease, she’s already had the discussion with her three children, Shane Jr, 36, Jake, 32, and Ciara, 24, in case she is ever diagnosed.
“It’s my biggest fear and I’ve actually said to my kids if it happens – god forbid – put me in a home and walk away, because I won’t know and it’s awful,” she said.
“Of course they’re going: ‘Like we’re going to put you in a home and walk away,’ and I’m said: ‘I’m telling you if you decide to do that, don’t ever feel guilty because that’s what I want you to do … as long as it’s a nice home!'”
When looking after her mum, Coleen said she would have “tantrums like a two year old”. She also said she found it hard to bathe her.
Coleen added: “The last two years it was really bad. And she didn’t know us anyway. We had the guilt – I remember not wanting to go and see her. I would wake up and think I don’t want to go and see her because it killed me.”
The singer declared that “no child wants to put a parent in a care home”, insisting she was left with “massive guilt”.
‘I just want cancer to leave us alone’
That’s not the only heartache the famous family have endured over the years, though.
Following a 20-year-long battle with cancer, Coleen’s older sister Linda died on January 15 after suffering from double pneumonia. The following month, she was laid to rest with a funeral in Blackpool.
However, while grieving over the loss of her sibling, Coleen’s brother Brian, 69, was diagnosed with level 2 prostate cancer days after her death. He is now the fifth of the Nolan siblings to battle the cruel disease.
“I just want cancer to leave us alone,” Brian told OK! while sharing the news.
It’s good news, however, as the cancer has not spread further, and Brian will have surgery to have his prostate gland removed. During an appearance on Loose Women with Coleen on Monday (March 24), Brian urged men to prioritise their health.
Read more: Coleen Nolan ‘putting on a brave face’ ahead of first milestone without sister Linda
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