Julie Goodyear’s husband Scott Brand shared a rare picture of her on Wednesday amid her dementia battle.
The Coronation Street icon, 83, went public with her diagnosis in 2023, with Scott, 55, previously revealing how painful it is to watch her ‘slowly fade away’ and the hardships he has faced as Julie’s sole carer.
Julie met Scott – who is 26 years her junior – back in 1996, when he delivered plaster to her house. Scott said Julie had abandoned her trademark leopard print outfits and colourful lipsticks when he opened up on the pain of watching her deteriorate.
Speaking to The Mirror, he 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.’He added: ‘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.’
Scott said that he misses the activities they used to enjoy, such as romantic meals and long walks, with the hardest being unable to go on holidays together anymore.
He got candid about the hardships he faced as Julie’s sole carer at the beginning, admitting it was ‘killing me’.
Scott, who gave up his career to be Julie’s full time carer, explained that he has now become aware of the small freedoms he used to take for granted.
He said that going to watch the football with friends or having a drink were no longer options, as everything has to be planned far in advance and he needs to always be sober in case there’s an emergency and he has to drive.
He said: ‘For me, the hardest part was accepting and coming to terms with the diagnosis. At the beginning I refused to accept any support, thinking I could cope as we have always been quite private people.’
However, Scott soon realised that he needed help and admitted he was ‘not coping’, while taking over the household affairs and finances from Julie for the first time.He said: ‘Caring for Julie is my priority, but my health was being affected and as a lone carer I felt it was ‘killing me’. It was like being thrown into a new world of having to do everything by myself.’
He said that he would advise anyone going through a similar situation to accept help straight away, calling the Alzheimer’s Society, a ‘lifeline’.
Scott explained the charity provided a Dementia Advisor, Julie Mann, who helped them sort their affairs and get the right care package and financial entitlements, saying she helped ‘take such a burden off our shoulders’.
Scott announced the news Julie had been diagnosed with dementia last summer, releasing a statement that read: ‘My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis.
‘Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance.
‘But we now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation – and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse.
‘We have taken the decision to publicly announce the diagnosis as Julie still loves visiting friends and eating out.
‘Inevitably she is recognised, and fans love to meet her – and she them – but she can get confused particularly if she is tired. I hope people will understand.’