Ruth Langsford admits family’s ‘guilt’ over putting elderly mother in care home 

Ruth Langsford revealed her guilt over putting her mother Joan in a care home during a discussion on This Morning on Friday. 

The 60-year-old host has previously revealed she has been talking to her mother through a window using a walkie talkie. 

Ruth has been unable to hug her due to care home rules amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

‘It’s a natural, human reaction’: Ruth Langsford admitted her family’s ‘guilt’ over putting her elderly mother Joan in care home during a discussion on This Morning on Friday

She discussed her heartache while giving advice to a caller in a similar position alongside husband Eamonn Holmes, also 60, and agony aunt Deidre. 

A caller named Sue shared her worries after her elderly mother had gone into hospital for leg pain, but had sadly been diagnosed dementia while still in hospital.

She revealed her mother had been sectioned and will need to be released into a care home. 

Heartache: Ruth (pictured with her mother before the pandemic), said: 'Everybody who faces a loved one going into a care home feels guilt, it's just a human, natural reaction, but you mustn't do because you love your mum so much, clearly'

Heartache: Ruth (pictured with her mother before the pandemic), said: ‘Everybody who faces a loved one going into a care home feels guilt, it’s just a human, natural reaction, but you mustn’t do because you love your mum so much, clearly’

She had said she was scared about how their relationship will change and questioned if her mother would even recognise her.

Sue said: ‘More than anything I feel so guilty.’

Showing compassion, Ruth replied: ‘Sue, honestly, I know why you would, and we did as a family.

‘Everybody who faces a loved one going into a care home feels guilt, it’s just a human, natural reaction, but you mustn’t do because you love your mum so much, clearly.

Lovely: Back in March, Ruth shared a sweet video of her kissing her mum Joan through a window as she wished her a Happy Mother's Day

Lovely: Back in March, Ruth shared a sweet video of her kissing her mum Joan through a window as she wished her a Happy Mother’s Day

‘You will find her the best care home for her, because you will be choosing it with love and care and what is best for her at the front of your mind.’

She continued: ‘And actually, Sue, it becomes a different way of being with your mum, because I am sure you do a lot of caring for her, even before she had dementia.

‘And it’s the same with my mum when my dad had Alzheimer’s and she looked after him for ten years.

‘And when he eventually went into care, which was very hard for all of us, I said, “You can visit him as his wife, not his carer”, you won’t have to do those things, it’s a different time, a different relationship.

‘She might not recognise you straight away, just going from my family experiences, but if you keep her calm, it might take time.’

Back in March, Ruth shared a sweet video of herself kissing her mum through a window as she wished her a Happy Mother’s Day. 

The Loose Women starfollowed the government’s advice to practice social distancing, especially with the eld erly, as she greeted her mum through the glass.

Captioning the video, Ruth wrote: ‘Locked down but not forgotten! Happy Mother’s Day Mum….love her! ❤️’

In the short clip, Ruth can be seen chatting away to her mum, before they sweetly pressed their hands up against the window.

Ruth was heard saying: ‘Give us a a kiss, Happy Mother’s Day’. She added: ‘It is odd isn’t it? We miss you.’  

Catching up: The Loose Women star, 60, had followed the government's advice to practice social distancing, especially with the elderly, as she greeted her mum through the glass

Catching up: The Loose Women star, 60, had followed the government’s advice to practice social distancing, especially with the elderly, as she greeted her mum through the glass