Adjustable Beds On Dla?

albaker

proper profiling beds this is what these beds are called DO go down flat , my son a paraplegic has one which after assesment from social services supplied it at no cost to us 12 years ago and we have had 2 replacements both times had to be at no cost just a re assesment by an OT .

earthmother

DH finally got a profiling bed through the community nurses this summer - after 3 years sleeping upright on the sofa, and only after the local hospital got involved - the SS had known about his problems for the whole 3 years and had done multiple assesments, but were dragging their heels as much as possible saying they couldn't source the right one/sufficient funding - the DNs/hospital got one ordered and delivered in less than 2 weeks (amazing what can happen when they can't send you home without it isn't it :rolleyes: ).

I'm not sure who actually funded it eventually, but it wasn't the SS, and we were never asked to contribute (he is on higher DLA though). It's been a godsend for him though, meaning a 'good nights sleep' means 6+ hours and moderate pain in the morning rather than less than 2 hours and agony.

If the OPs view on this person is correct though, it does annoy me, when I know how long DH suffered without his bed, and the fact that we've been told that to get any house adapted for him is a 2-year-plus process before work will even start.

Unity

earthmother wrote: »

DH finally got a profiling bed through the community nurses this summer - after 3 years sleeping upright on the sofa, and only after the local hospital got involved - the SS had known about his problems for the whole 3 years and had done multiple assesments, but were dragging their heels as much as possible saying they couldn't source the right one/sufficient funding - the DNs/hospital got one ordered and delivered in less than 2 weeks (amazing what can happen when they can't send you home without it isn't it :rolleyes: ).

I'm not sure who actually funded it eventually, but it wasn't the SS, and we were never asked to contribute (he is on higher DLA though). It's been a godsend for him though, meaning a 'good nights sleep' means 6+ hours and moderate pain in the morning rather than less than 2 hours and agony.

If the OPs view on this person is correct though, it does annoy me, when I know how long DH suffered without his bed, and the fact that we've been told that to get any house adapted for him is a 2-year-plus process before work will even start.

It is disgraceful the amount of time that passes in trying to get any sort of help from the relevant agencies isn't it?:rolleyes: Had our union not asked if we needed anything, I would undoubtedly still be waiting. As it is I can now manage to sleep for a couple of hours (albeit heavily medicated) before the pain wakes me, but at least pressing a couple of buttons alters my position and means DH doesn't have to be up quite as often as he would be without it.

Have you contacted your local advice centre? They should be able to tell you what you can insist upon having done by way of adaptations (I was told that they had to provide me with access into and out of my home - but this may have changed). If they've said you'll have to wait two years, have you filled in the forms to get assistance yet?If not then two years will surely come and go and you'll find you'll have another two years to wait once you've submitted them - if things go the way they normally do :rolleyes:.

Unfortunately a lot depends on where you live - some areas are better than others, but if you find yourself facing obstacles, involve your MP. Representing you is, after all, what they are paid for.

Good luck!

earthmother

Thanks Unity - it is awful the time that many people have to wait for any help.

With regard to the adaptations, no we've not filled any forms in yet. Our SW had only just started the ball rolling in terms of looking at what was needed/could be done when our landlord served us notice. So now everything is on hold until we get somewhere else to live - which is interesting in its own right when you have special requirements for housing, you claim HB (which puts the majority of private lets either financially out of reach, or the landlords won't even consider you), and the council have just 4 properties which would be immediately suitable in an entire third of a county, and there's no sign of any becoming available. But that's another story :rolleyes:

Unity

earthmother wrote: »

Thanks Unity - it is awful the time that many people have to wait for any help.

With regard to the adaptations, no we've not filled any forms in yet. Our SW had only just started the ball rolling in terms of looking at what was needed/could be done when our landlord served us notice. So now everything is on hold until we get somewhere else to live - which is interesting in its own right when you have special requirements for housing, you claim HB (which puts the majority of private lets either financially out of reach, or the landlords won't even consider you), and the council have just 4 properties which would be immediately suitable in an entire third of a county, and there's no sign of any becoming available. But that's another story :rolleyes:

I know I'll probably get shot down in flames for this suggestion, but I would look at getting your local/regional paper involved. It's a disgraceful state of affairs in your area regarding the lack of provision of adequate disabled housing:eek:. There are some good journalists out there, interested in righting the wrongs in their local communities (rather than trailing after boring would-be celebs). You would be surprised the obstacles that can be overcome once you have the help of your MP and local paper.;)

Either way, if it was me I'd be contacting the SW again and asking to fill the forms in now, so that when you are rehoused you will not be shoved to the back of the list when the grants are handed out and what's more work might be able to be done before you move in.

Regards to your DH, and to you - where we would be without our dedicated partners I do not know - well I do, I'd be between a rock and a hard place .

Love,
Unity