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01761 431388

Double Life for Bath Businesswoman

Rosie Cole with her husband, Den, who has Alzheimer's Disease

Rosie Cole is a very successful businesswoman, running her busy student lettings agency from offices in Widcombe, Bath. However, her life has another side as her husband, Den, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease six years ago. Since then, everything about Rosie’s life has completely changed.

“I set up Roman City Letting on the old Enterprise Allowance Scheme in the 1980s,” explained Rosie.” “I started from nothing and now, my children work with me, supporting a team that manages hundreds of properties throughout Bath for students at university here.”

Rosie and Den met over thirty years ago when they were both active in local politics; they lived life to the full until Den was diagnosed with cancer in 1987.

“We fought the cancer and won,” said Rosie. “We thought everything would be alright – but then, Den gradually began to get more and more forgetful and Alzheimer’s Disease was diagnosed in 2004. You can’t fight that – and it’s devastating.”

Rosie cared for Den herself every day, but life became very hard and she began to get depressed as Den got harder to manage.

“He would go out and get lost, or not know me: I was at the end of my tether; then I found out about the Carers’ Centre Bath and North East Somerset.”

The Carers’ Centre immediately arranged for Rosie to have a break from caring, sending her for 24 hours’ respite to the Ammerdown Retreat in Radstock.

“I was worried about going away, I didn’t know what to expect; but it was wonderful! I relaxed for the first time in years, I had a walk in beautiful countryside, I had my lunch freshly made for me and I had a long soak in a bath with time to really think my life through. You can’t do these things when you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s; you can never relax.”

Rosie made the decision to go back to running her business full time. The Carers’ Centre put her in touch with the Peggy Dodd Day Care Centre in Bath, and Den is now cared for there every day whilst Rosie is at work.

“Den loves going to Peggy Dodd; the Centre is fantastic and the care they give to Den is exemplary. He gets very excited about seeing his friends and care workers there each day,” enthused Rosie.

“I am now a Trustee at the Carers’ Centre; they do such wonderful work for carers in the area, and I know I can use my business experience to make a difference and help them reach out to more carers. When I am at the Centre, I feel free to be myself. Everyone I meet there understands how my life is affected by Den’s illness and they offer me tremendous support.”

For more information about the Carers’ Centre Bath and North East Somerset contact 01761 431388 or visit www.banescarerscentre.org.uk