Hey it’s physically and emotionally draining. I did 23 hour shifts. My mum had Alzheimer’s. Very severe. She spread poo, took her clothes off, hid poo in pockets and drawers, hit, threw hot soup at my daughter, my children became scared of their own grandma, she woke us all up at night hitting the bannisters with a walking stick and my children were trying to do important exams, she was doubly incontinent. I used to bathe her daily, get her down stand she’d wet herself all over the floor meaning we’d need to go straight back upstairs to have another bath, my house smelt of wee. She slept for one hour every night. I couldn’t medicate her as she would wet herself everywhere after taking off her incontinence pads. We waited 18 months for an incontinence nurse. Nobody came. It was just me. 24/7. No help from anyone. Social services had no idea and I don’t think you do either. Lots of times she’d either have a medical collapse or put herself on the floor and in both cases would need paramedics as I couldn’t lift her on my own. She threatened to bite the paramedics. The affect it has on children if they are involved. I ended up coming downstairs one morning to poo all over my walls and door handles for the third day in a row and ended up having a carer breakdown. Mum was put into an emergency home. Not the one I would have chosen. She was so bad they wouldn’t send her back. She died in that home about four years later. Even they couldn’t cope as she managed to find and swallow a vinyl examination glove whole. She had no idea who I was when she lived with me. I was visiting her. It was basically me and her both having a cup of tea with a stranger. Often partially naked. Other residents would come into the room and wee on the carpet in front of my children. That is often the reality of looking after an elderly relative. Please understand that things are not as simple as you think, and if a doctor says it’s not possible then it must be serious. Don’t judge until you’ve really been there.
Me and my dad were so alike. I was his mini me, even though I'm female. I promised him he would never be put in a home. I fulfilled that promise. I lost him 2 years ago, aged 96. Miss you SOOOOOO much, my lovely little dad 💋💔
My dad's 80 this year. We never got on when I was younger .but he's mellowed with age. I worked in an OAP home when I was 16 .and it was horrendous .I WOULDN'T WISH IT ON MY WORST ENEMY LET ALONE MY PARENTS .we owe it to them regardless to give up a couple of years if they need us. THEY AFTER ALL .GAVE US LIFE IF NOTHING ELSE !!😂
Until a couple of years ago, I had worked in a care home for the elderly for nearly 26 years. In my opinion, honestly, after all i’ve seen, you made the best decision for your dad. More people should care for their parents at home, even if they need agency home carers as well ( but closely supervised ). 👍
As a young lad I delivered Norman's daily newspaper, and one day mum asked if I'd met him. No was the answer but the very next morning while walking back to my bike, the bedroom window opened and Norman yelled at me. "What are you doing here" I replied "delivering your newspaper" He then threw half a crown that landed on the lawn, closed the window and was gone. It took me ages to find that coin.
I am finding it very difficult to watch this video, especially when Normans Daughter and Son does not understand that their Father has Dementia. Snapping at her Father about it being a long time since he rode his motor bike. Normans memory is that he rode his motor bike just the other day, and nothing will convince him otherwise, and that is Dementia. I had the pleasure of meeting Norman before Dementia struck, a wonderful kind soul. RIP Norman.
No idea how to relate to him. He paid for private education and no doubt they're homes. The daughter by the looks of it spent it on botox... little bit self obsessed with herself.. me, me, me.
Nothing would of been more pleasure than look after a parent. Lost my dad 9 years ago and the care I gave him was precious quality time that I will never see again.
My mum worked as a childrens nurse in a London childrens hospital n the sixties. Norman visited the kids one day, and when he visited a youngster, bald due to his leukemia/ cancer, he gave him his cap. My mum remembers him cheering up everyone. What an amazing man.
I remember seeing Norman's house on TV. It was beautiful. My late auntie developed senile dementia. Her twins lived and worked hundreds of miles away. They paid £1000 per week for 24/7 care in her home, staffed by people she had known. They took her for walks every day and short trips to the beach or to classy places for lunch. The twins flew up to be with her every 2nd weekend in turn for 13 years. And during their holidays throughout the year. Relatives there also had her for lunch and special family occasions. Norman's family could have done more to make Norman's life at home comfortable. It didn't have to be the way it was. RIP Norman. RIP Auntie Eileen.
He's 92 for God's Sake kids, he's not gonna "disrupt" your own lives forever!! A few years at best, and he deserves that! I bet he's looked after them in many ways over the years!😢
His children Were so ungrateful. His son wasn’t even able to show any loving affection to his dad, he would’ve been better off having no children.His daughter was a waste of time
+Dave Gibson you are right about his daughter , i just find it so hard to believe that Normans own daughter is so heartless , Norman deserved so much better .
@newlanky2 - They made a 'huge meal' out of it. Their plan to re-arrange their families and marriages in order for one of them to move to a different island! So that one of them, his daughter-in-law no less, could go and look after him! Meaning she 'abandoned' her 12 year old son in the process. Surely them arranging for the extra support of having paid carers attend daily to help his long suffering PA ,who became his Carer, would have been far easier all around. I'll watch the rest now, to see how they adapted.
I agree he couldn’t have been that bad to take care of he’s a comedian and a famous actor of course he might seem slightly absorbed in himself a lot of actors and actresses are, but that’s just the way it is that doesn’t make sense a bad person and that doesn’t make them unbearable to be around. That’s just their personality.
Don’t judge. I looked after my folks for years once they got dementia. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. Carers everywhere deserve medals the size of bin lids.
I grew up with Norman Wisdom. I love him, he was my favourite actor of all time. Still is because I can relive them all through watching his films over and over again! ❤
Still springing about like he's not aged a day.. What a character, I can't imagine ever having a serious moment in Norman Wisdoms presence! This legend gave me some seriously great childhood memories.. Also got me in a lot of trouble mimicking his actions 😄
always loved sir Norman. I don't know if anyone on here has read his autobiography but he had custody of his children when they were quite young and he and his wife were divorced. Norman had a brutal childhood but did his best with his children. what a way to repay him. couldn't his son have got a manager to run his sport shop whilst he was in the Isle of Man. why couldn't Jackie sort her divorce from the Isle of Man? I hope that if they both make old bones they remember the selfish attitude and neglect they put on their father when he needed some care. As for the daughter in law, I hope they realise how special she was. bye Sir Norman and thanks for the laughs and the songs x
Norman...being an Entertainer.. one who admired from watching his films in my early youth..always needed an audience..it would be one of the things that kept him going.I fell in love with the island on my first visit at 8yrs old.i am now 70.one visit to Peel and there is some kind of magnetic force that drags you back there.,I visited for many years..I once found a newspaper cutting about a film that hadn't been shown before.which was filmed in Darwen in Lancashire being shown locally.a lot of locals were extras..as I had driven past Norman's house on the island,I posted this off to him.lucky to have got a reply from Ann his PA/Carer..who did a wonderful job looking after him.telling me he enjoyed hearing about it..which was good to know as was prior to him going in the nursing home on the island..he was loved and admired by the Manx people...and believe he loved them.they in one sense were the audience that kept him going. R.I.P. Sir Norman..
So sad to watch. Norman deserved better. His children evidently embittered from there fathers divorce. His grandson abandoned by his own mother because Normans own flesh and blood are far too up themselves to accept responsibility.
Mr Grimsdale Mr Grimsdale , my God Norman Wisdom you were loved so much by your admiring public, thank you so very much for the beautiful memories and the laughter you gave us, a true performer right to the end .
Caring for an elderly parent at home, keeping them OUT of an assisted living facility (we did this with our Mum, until she passed peacefully in her bed, at 95) will bring out the best - and the worst in people. My sister and I did not 'argue' about it - we both lived near each other here in NYC, once we were denied any help (from Medicaid which did not lift a finger to help us) - we rolled up our sleeves, sharing mum's care. I will say it was heartwarming, heartbreaking, appalling, infuriating, life changing, hysterically funny, spiritually uplifting, instructive, exhausting, and so much more. I pity people who do not have the chance to care for an elder beloved. Their lives are the poorer for not doing it. I am writing a book about the four years we looked after Mama Lu. Great program. Although I am a Yank, I was familiar with the films of Norman Wisdom. He was not that well known here in the US, sorry to say. Because he was... brilliant!!
Your Mum was very blessed to have you both. I looked after my mother in law until she passed and now we are going through similar with my father in law. It can be sorted out and as you mentioned can be so rewarding.
Where does it mention the level of his parenting? Maybe he sacrificed looking after his family for his career? The fact two of them have turned out as BAD as you make out, would suggest it wasn't a one off!
Due to the rising age of retirement, and the cost of living, there are many people in their 60s (or older) who simply cannot afford to stop working, so how can they look after elderly parents who cannot be left on their own, particularly if they don’t have a job whereby they can work from home?
That poor boy, Greg, his facial expressions are priceless as his aunt and uncle argue over a dog. while Norman is completely forgotten about, over dog biscuits and furr
God, poor kid. It kind of breaks my heart that although Norman’s kids had a loving warm upbringing with him having full custody of them, they still were kind of ungrateful to him and were still pretty selfish. If his aunt and uncle didn’t care about him or his grandad, I shudder to think of the treatment that Greg had at home…. I mean, my family would’ve been the complete opposite. We’re pretty tight knit, and although thankfully none of my grandparents ever had dementia/Alzheimer’s, my grandpa on my mom’s side (my Poppy) moved in with us after we lost our Grammy, though he can still take care of himself because we don’t want him to be lonely.
Norman gave me many smiles as a child and I met him when I was 11. I handed him a letter and he jumped of the stool saying is that me . I cried when I saw him . Few weeks later norman had replied to me personally and answered my letter. Amazing man . Don't know what his kids have been through but I feel blessed to have had norman on my screen and will always admire him
As a professional Carer,I have looked after more than a few famous people. All I can say is old age and dementia are a fact of life and Normans offspring show little regard for either. The daughter in law and ex P.A. on the other hand showed him dignity and respect. For his age Sir Norman remained a gentleman,wether you liked him or not he was truly a legend!
I can't believe he's children couldn't look after there very famous Dad,his daughter going through a divorce,his son with his little sport shop,good on you daughter in law
Can't see why they couldn't look after him as he had provided them with a very charmed lifestyle all of their lives.....bet they are enjoying his hard earned money now though.... I'd have looked after him for free, brilliant and most lovely man, he made this world a better place thats for sure xxxxxxxxxx
What a lovely lovely man Norman was ❤. Total respect to his P.A and daughter in law . His son and daughter are selfish and should be ashamed of themselves . Love the relationship between him and his P.A and daughter in law ❤❤
I hope Norman left his children out of his Will. If I had children and they treated me like that I'd tell them to fuck off. I would have given it to the daughter-in-law Kim. Cares for him more better than his biological kids.
It broke my heart when they did a documentary about Norman and his family in his later years. The only person who shown any carring for Norman was his Daughter- in -Law Kim. His daughter Jacki came across very selfish. I wish he was my Dad I would of looked after him to the end. God Bless you Norman a very talented English man who the world will remember forever.
That's unfair, you don't know their relationship you only know of Norman from afar. His kids clearly cared for him, they were being realistic. Why try and take care of a parent if you're going to clash and he's going to be miserable? They found a good work around.
This reminds me of an old Chinese story of a man who has his elderly father living with him and his family. One day, he goes out to the local market and buys a large basket to put his frail father in to take him down to the torrid river so he can dump him. He explains to his family that he just can't be bothered to look after him no more, and this is best for everyone. That evening, while waiting for his elderly father to fall asleep so he can finally be rid of him, his youngest son approaches him and says "Dad please please remember to bring the basket back." He looks at the young boy and says why, son. The boy replies well I'll need it for you one day, won't i dad.
You couldn't have worked & looked after Norman, he needed care 24x7, my Mother became ill just after I retired & I care for her but I couldn't have worked, I needed a neighbour just to sit with her so I could do the shopping.. Normans son & daughter both had their own businesses, they needed the money, Norrman wasn't that well off, you don't get paid for old films shown on TV..
I was born in 1960 and, growing up in Dublin, had the pleasure of watching Norman, Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Benny Hill and all those 'Carry on...' films. Both my parents lived into their 90's and yes we too had to deal with Alzheimers, cancer etc. Truely, getting old really sux. When a parent gets to 'that' stage *they need professional care*, not siblings, with crap in their own lives, trying to be do-gooders. Ferrchrissakes, his son couldn't even organize a supervised bath/shower FOR HIS DAD! If professional care was there, he'd be in, washed, dressed and downstairs watching 'footy' in no time. You can still see the softness in Norman's eyes. I hope to meet him someday, wherever, and thank him.
I was saying the exact same thing when I heard her say that and making excuses that she couldn't possibly put the dog on the plane for the sake of six weeks. So they sent his sons wife instead. Real shame that his daughter inlaw went out to look after him 💕
Oh my God they couldn't give a hoot about him I looked after my mam who was only 61 when she died from dementia .she cared for me so I cared for her .also I cared for my Dad he died aged 92 .it did disrupt my life leaving my kids but I'm so glad i did it
Looked after my mum for 3 years on my own. She passed at 85. It's was a blessing but an extremely difficult road. She passed away in my presence, an experience which I'm grateful for but takes time to heal from. She loved and remembered Norman and I only played her some clips a few months ago. 💜
His son & particularly his daughter come across as hard & cold. Only his daughter-in-law really cared, a lovely lady. His daughter showed little patience & didn't even try to understand the illness with her impatient attitude & jibes. She's a divorcée, I'm not at all surprised!
Norman needed 24 hr care, both his son & daughter worked with their own businesses to run ,Norman had been asked to leave two nursing homes cos of his destructive behaviour, that wasn't shown in the programme...
what did the monye run out so then he got fuck out the door he put a roof under his kids head ya he work my kids dad gave my kid fuck all at let my kid show me love not like norman daughter heartless where that sweet old lady gone there should be more lady like her
Ive got to admit i agree with you there! Like who in gods name would sell their fathers prize vehicals that he cherrished so much. Alright he couldnt drive it but it was still his and what he like
I have looked after the elderly in their own homes 24/7 and I can tell you 99% of them had family who were not in the least bit interested in them. All they were keen on was what they would be left in the will. It was heartbreaking. They very rarely saw the family and they didn't even bother phoning.
I am absolutely disgusted. Norman Wisdom did not deserve this from his family. This is how Norman's enemies, including his children really felt about him. I could never do that to my own parents. I am absolutely mortified.😣😣😣 Wherever you are Mr Wisdom I hope you are resting in eternal love, light, joy and peace, surrounded by the abundant love of God and the angels.😇
His own father was a vicious man, leaving Norman and his brother a dreadful childhood. And then throw him out first chance he got ,treating his own son like his worst enemy. RIP Norman.
When someone has dementia depending how bad the level is, you have to refraze certain things, like, for instance 'bathtimes becomes 'pamper time ' it works out better.
What a shame Jacqui Wisdom, Sir Norman Wisdom's daughter portrays herself she seems very bitter towards her father, I just hope that Sir Norman Never saw this documentary and the way his daughter was/is. Sir Norman Wisdom was and always be an icon of British Comedy. I was lucky enough to see him when I was very young. His Son Nicholas and Kim as well as his Grandson Gregory truly loved him you can just see in contrast to his daughter who should hold her head in shame. Thank you Sir Norman Wisdom for the fun & laughter you brought to so many with both your films and live performances.
It saddens me that his loved ones were happy to live off of the fruits of his labour, use his name on their business and in other ventures, but cannot take care of him in his final years. They display a sense of coldness towards him, particularly his Son. What he ought to remember is that Norman was once able bodied and independent. Removing this through illness and age, particularly his ability to drive, will have driven him nuts, yet no compassion from his Son what so ever. RIP Norman, a great, a legend, and a star. Shine bright Sir ❤
What a terrible ending for a great man. A family that bitch people associate them with him, complain they have to look after him then shove him in a home first chance they get. It breaks my heart that they didn't just move in with him or hired someone to care for him when they couldn't in his own home. Rest in peace Norman.
Heart breaking to see him reduced to a home when he was not as important as the fukin dogs, ,, sorry but his family cared more about his money AND THOSE FRIGGIN DOGS than HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved norman ... id say i actually had a crush on him growing up ... terrible his children who he had sole custody of and looked after didnt even help part time ... i know now the outcome after this ... i cant believe how active he is here more like 70 year old ... god bless you norman ❤❤❤❤
I hope Greg survived this ok, it must have been tough having his mum away from home and he comes across as being a little bit of an introvert who keeps his innermost feelings to himself...Personally, I don't think this documentary should have been made and had Norman not been in a state of mental decline, it probably wouldn't have been. He should have been allowed to age with dignity, outside of the publics eye. In summation, some things should be kept private!
I'm sure we only saw the best, most charming moments out of respect for Norman and I am sure these people were exasperated and fed up for a good reason. But God bless him from what I saw I would treasure every moment with him.
Selfish and cold daughter and the son cld have done much more. Poor Norman, a lovely lovely man, comic genius, beautiful voice and a legend. What a way to end his life. God rest his soul x
Norman's career sure seems to have provided a very lucrative life-style for two dour ingrate offspring, unlike the very hard conditions of Norman's early life before his enormous success. Allowing for the difficulties that extreme age can bring, Norman retains his sense of humour throughout.
I never actually meet Norman but, Norman’s sister lived near one of my Uncles. Norman visited my Uncle in his last days in a Nursing Home. We have a photograph of Norman with my Uncle. Norman would have seen what it was like in the Nursing Home and wouldn’t have liked it. Before anyone says anything my Uncle had no Children and his wife had died, the rest of his relatives lived over 300 miles away.
The man was immensely talented. Great singer, wrote songs, comedian, stunt man and very good actor as well as boxer of repute. Anyone who is critical of him probably has not an ounce of his talent.
Norman Wisdom Autobiograpy is spot on I have read the book over and over again. When i was a child i was fortunate enough to see Norman at a charity event I just stared in orra of him. For my 21st Birthday I wanted to see Norman who was at Davenport Theatre he was amazing doing all the stunts on stage. Thankyou Norman for making me happy and laugh through my life. It broke my heart when they did a documentary about Norman and his family in his later years. The only person who shown any carring for Norman was his Daughter- in -Law Kim. His daughter Jacki came across very selfish. I wish he was my Dad I would of looked after him to the end. God Bless you Norman a very talented English man who the world will remember forever.
I was an extra in a Norman Wisdom film when I was about 8 - “There was a Crooked Man”. Part of it was filmed in Darwen, Lancashire. My father and my grandmother both loved him and I grew up singing “Don’t laugh at Me” and other songs and watching all his films. On the last day of filming he spent hours dressed in his US Army uniform from the film, signing autographs and posing for photographs. A really lovely man, very fond childhood memories of him, thank you for this -God bless you Norman. 🙏 you will be making them all laugh up there! 😊
hey , im 46 and only ever heard of Norman through family etc, just watched this, and did some research on the guy, watched some films, and i think , what a guy, what a histroy actor, boxer army career , well happy to have got to know this amazing guy from youtube
@@jackieevans8852 Norman put on an act to make the world love him. His children are a different story and who really knows what that is. All that glitters is not gold.
My mother is in a dementia unit in a lovely care home. We tried to look after her, but the baggage that came with being family was too much. Better she’s happy in a place where she is cared for by people who don’t know the past, than at home with us and everyone being miserable. We are all human, and we all make mistakes, but we can only do our best within circumstances.
I always go straight to the comments and yours made me smile 🙂 .. heres to the greats of British comedy 🍸 ..in my early 40s here and have seen them come and go grew up in the 80s what a time to be alive for great tv , it’s changed but we remember the greats 🙏🏼⭐️❤️
I despise children like this…I looked after my father at home as I promised that he would never be put in a home. He was in his 90’s when he passed…we nursed him through cancer and he died at home with his family. It was a privilege and we wish he was still here…
he certainly was a true Trooper. Even in This documentary he can play up to the cameras to make us all laugh. You can do that by just looking at me. He has such a beautiful characteristic face will go down in history as one of a true comedians. Such a sad loss. I wish it was my dad add. I would not let him out of my sight. I just love to listen to a stories. But this will now never be be a great loss to TV and film god bless you Norman you're loved missed respected
I wrote a film script for Sir Norman called Jimmy. He called me from home. to discuss it. He told me to read 'Dont Laugh At Me' All worth reading and very moving. Unfortunately the film was never started due to his illness. Dementia is a terrible thing as well as old age which is cruel. I spoke to him on the phone a few times. I would like to remember Sir Norman from his films. Vibrant, very funny and a superb entertainer and actor and all round very nice person. Goodbye Norman. I never took the invitation from you to come and to see you those many years ago but the memory of those wonderful films will live on forever.
My nan knew him rather well when he used to travel to Deal, in Kent. I think it was around the 1940's. They were going to use her flat as part of a TV program, but it never materialized. He was a great talent. He was living proof that laughter keeps you feeling young well into your old age. RIP.
