ITV presenter Ruth Langsford has opened up about her parents’ battle with dementia after losing her father to the neurological condition.
The Loose Women host and Alzheimer’s Society ambassador will be part of a campaign this Christmas to spread awareness.
The 64-year-old’s father Dennis passed away in 2012 after living with Alzheimer’s for over a decade, with her mum Joan also living with the condition.
Langsford will be part of the campaign which will see viewers noticing some differences to ITV show announcements between 23-31 December.
“Having lost my dad Dennis, and currently seeing my mum Joan live with dementia, I know how this time of year can often heighten the heartbreak and loss we feel, coupled with added challenges to manage ongoing caring responsibilities,” she said.
“With one in three people born today developing dementia, it has never been more crucial to shine a light on the condition and bring it from behind closed doors.
“So don’t be alarmed, when images and sound suddenly don’t seem quite right between some of your ITV programmes this Christmas but do share with family and friends the messages heard.
“I’m delighted to be voicing the important messages for this year’s campaign. Christmas should be a happy time filled with loved ones, laughter and memories.
“But sadly, for around one million people in the UK, dementia will strip these precious moments away.”
Langsford has been speaking about her mum in recent weeks for a different reason after she was hospitalised having suffered a fall.
She shared her mum’s situation last week, revealing she was visiting her mum in hospital.
In the post she wrote: “Hospital visit….thank you all so much for your lovely messages and well wishes for my darling Mum.
“She’ll be in hospital for a bit longer yet, but she’s in pretty good spirits considering and I hope she’ll be home for Christmas.”
The former This Morning host was inundated with support from well-known pals, as well as her former partner Eamonn Holmes. The Belfast presenter was among the tens of thousands liking the message on her social media account.
In another update on Wednesday night last week, Langsford shared a short clip alongside her mum in hospital as they watched what she described as one of her mum’s “favourite shows” As Time Goes By.
Sharing the clip of her watching the show on a tablet computer, Ruth said her mum was “laughing away”.
Ruth revealed at the weekend that her mum had “a fall and fractured her pelvis”.
“She’s ok…ish, no surgery required thank goodness but she needs rest and time to heal now,” she wrote.
If you’d like to help Alzheimer’s Society provide a little light to people affected by dementia this Christmas, you can donate, share your story or find more information, visit alzheimers.org.uk/Christmas or call the charity’s support line on 0333 150 3456.