Loose Women celebrity Coleen Nolan recently shared her ongoing feelings of guilt regarding the difficult decision to move her mother, Maureen, into a care home due to her battle with Alzheimer’s. Despite the necessity for 24/7 support, Coleen admitted the decision was heartbreaking, especially as Maureen’s condition deteriorated significantly towards the end of her life.
During an episode of the Loose Women: Just Between Us podcast, Coleen, aged 60, revealed that the family allowed Maureen to choose her own nursing home. This decision came after a listener sought advice about a similar dilemma with their father. Coleen explained the challenges they faced in making the decision, emphasizing the importance of safety and round-the-clock care that they couldn’t provide at home due to their work commitments.
Interestingly, the nursing home Maureen ultimately chose was not the luxurious, modern facility that Coleen had expected her to prefer. Instead, Maureen opted for a more homely setting, which surprised Coleen but ultimately brought her comfort.
Despite the practicality of the decision, Coleen still grapples with feelings of guilt. In a conversation with fellow Loose Women star Charlene White, she expressed her ongoing struggle with the emotional weight of the choice.
Reflecting on her mother’s condition in a previous interview with the Mirror in 2008, Coleen highlighted the significant decline in Maureen’s cognitive abilities and quality of life. Maureen, a trained soprano from Dublin, had a successful singing career and was part of the famous Nolan family music act, which included all her daughters.
Coleen shared that towards the end of Maureen’s life, music played a vital role in bringing her peace. She mentioned how Maureen would find solace in listening to music or watching musicals, providing moments of tranquility amid her condition.