A north-east woman who campaigned for a shake-up of the care system has been named as the victim of a car crash.
Helen Filson died in hospital on Thursday, two days after being knocked down by a grey Audi A4 in her hometown of Oldmeldrum.
The accident happened at about 8.20am on the town’s Eavern Place.
The 81-year-old – who spearheaded a campaign for better rights for older people after witnessing her husband’s decline in a care home – was last night described by her family as a “feisty and energetic” independent woman.
Daughter Sharon Munro said: “Mum enjoyed living an independent and social life in Oldmeldrum.
“She loved her family and has three children as well as grandchildren and a great-grandson, who will all miss her dearly.
“Prior to our dad’s death they loved to go hill walking and take caravan holidays and we have very fond memories of them both.”
Mrs Filson and her husband William became engaged after a whirlwind romance of just three weeks, and married in 1953.
They went on to have three children together, Beatrice, Sharon and Alisdair.
But in 2012, heartbroken Mrs Filson spoke out after her husband – who suffered from vascular dementia – was moved into a care home 36 miles away – leaving her no alternative but to make a seven-hour round trip on six buses to see him for just an hour a week.
Mr Filson’s health deteriorated after he was moved into the home, and his heartbroken wife claimed he was wasting away and being robbed of his dignity.
After an intervention by the Press and Journal during an investigation into the state of care, care bosses relocated Mr Filson to Auchtercrag care home in Ellon, where he died later that year at the age of 85.
And although Mrs Filson said she believed he may have lived longer if she had spoken out sooner. She said it had been a huge comfort to her that he spent his final weeks closer to her and in the care of people she trusted.
However, she called for a huge shake-up of the care process and urged people to speak out for their loved ones.
She said the entire process of placing people in homes was in desperate need of change, from where residents are placed to how their families are involved in their care.
Mrs Filson also said older people who have worked hard throughout their lives deserve to be cared for in the best possible place and by the best possible people in the end.