Aberdeenshire Council has given its support to Frank’s Law at its meeting held on Thursday 18th June. Frank is Frank Kopel, a Dundee United legend, who suffered from vascular dementia from the age of 59. As his condition deteriorated he needed personal care. Those aged over 65 are entitled to free personal care when assessed as needing it. But this is not available to those under 65. Frank and his wife, Amanda, had to pay about £400 a month for council care services. Frank died about a year ago but Amanda is continuing a campaign to get the Scottish Government to extend free personal care to the under 65’s.
Cllr Peter Bellarby proposed that the Council commend the campaign by Mrs Kopel and write to the First Minister requesting her to consider the introduction of a ‘Frank’s Law’ so that free personal care is extended to under 65’s with dementia and for it to be fully funded by the Scottish Government.
Cllr Bellarby said “So what has been done about it? On 22 June 2013 Amanda presented a petition to the Scottish Parliament. This is almost two years ago and has been before the committee ever since. On 17 March 2015 the committee agreed to write to the Scottish Government yet again on the matter as well as to COSLA. On 26 May the committee agreed to invite the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport to give evidence at a future meeting. You can see why there is a feeling of frustration at lack of action.
“This is not a political matter. It is about helping those who seem to have been left out in the cold, so to speak, some of whom stay in Aberdeenshire. It is about fairness and it is about a decent society.”
The motion was seconded by Cllr Karen Clark who said: ‘This motion has again raised the profile of such an important issue and put the spotlight on getting proper recognition of the personal care needs of dementia sufferers aged under 65’. The motion was passed unanimously.