Mobility or not?

chajun

Hello all. My father in law has just had a leg amputated. He also has to attend dyalisis in Edinburgh 3 days a week. His daughter" my wife " has to take him and collect him in a non mobility car. it very difficult as she has to slide him in and out of the wheelchair on a sliding board not easy. We have informed because of his age (72) he is not eligible for a mobility allowance. His daughter would do the driving. Does you have any advice or info re an Organisation to contact?


Regards and thanks
Charles Holloway

dmg24

Is he in receipt of Attendance Allowance, or DLA Care?

zzzLazyDaisy

I am sorry to hear about your FIL's problems, it must be a lot for your wife to cope with.

You can get swivel seats that might make getting in and out of the car more easy for him.

She should also apply for a blue badge for him, if he doesn;t have one already, as disabled bays are wider and will give her more room to help him to get in and out of the car.

Depending on his other needs, he may be entitled to Attendance Allowance. It won't entitle him to a motability car, but might help with the cost of getting your car adapted, if necessary. It might also be worth speaking to Age Concern, or your local DIAL to see if they have any suggestions.

chajun

Does your wife take him because she wants to be with him? (No it's essential) as he is at Dyalisis as per my post.

Why does she have to 'slide' him, he has use of one leg doesn't he? ( Yes but he's not in the fullness of health in other words "polite expression" he's very exhausted!!! And he's not Long john Silver. Crutch and a parrot!!!

There aren't any cars out there, mobility or not, that can help with that. ( you are uninformed there are vehicles that have a ramp so that the chair can be wheeled straight in.The Fiat Doblo for example.*****

But I'm confused about what you are wanting?
Don't be confused***** explains.

If your wife didnt want to take her father for his appointments then he would be entitled to hospital transport free of charge. He starts Dyalisis ay 1845hrs finishes at midnight.

chajun

he is in receipt of Attendance Allowance.

itsnotfair_2

I can see why you wife wishes to take her father for appoinments but the fact is if she were unwilling or unable he would get free transport there and back. The late hour would not stop a hospital doing this.

Consider the point that she may herself become ill and be unable to take him. There will be another way.

It is a good idea to apply for attendance allowance. He would not now ever be awarded DLA as he is over retirement age. You can only have it after retirement if you have before retirement.

itsnotfair_2

Sorry just noticed he gets attendance allowance.

chajun

The hospital does not run an ambulance get home service after 1900hrs if he was picked up earlier it would be about 1400hrs to arrive ai 1845 for the start of his dyalisis. We asked about taxies a no go.

Ruby_Moon

chajun wrote: »

Does your wife take him because she wants to be with him? (No it's essential) as he is at Dyalisis as per my post.

Why does she have to 'slide' him, he has use of one leg doesn't he? ( Yes but he's not in the fullness of health in other words "polite expression" he's very exhausted!!! And he's not Long john Silver. Crutch and a parrot!!!

There aren't any cars out there, mobility or not, that can help with that. ( you are uninformed there are vehicles that have a ramp so that the chair can be wheeled straight in.The Fiat Doblo for example.*****

But I'm confused about what you are wanting?
Don't be confused***** explains.

If your wife didnt want to take her father for his appointments then he would be entitled to hospital transport free of charge. He starts Dyalisis ay 1845hrs finishes at midnight.

It doesnt matter what time his appointments are, he is entitled to hospital transport.
Also, even though you can get a car that the wheelchair goes into the back, your FIL still needs to be moved into a car seat as he cannot travel in a car in his wheelchair.
All that car does is gives you the option of taking an electric wheelchair places which is not able to be folded down.
Even if your FIL were getting DLA, the mobility part of it wouldnt necessrily cover the cost of such a car and can only be used for your FIL anyway. Not much good if he cannot drive.

Edit to Add. If your wife didnt take him, do you really believe the NHS would let your FIL go without dialysis?? Of course not. They would get him to hospital and back or they would have home dialysis come out.

chajun

Again mis info the fiat doblo also vehicles modified by approved engineer companies do allow for traveling in the wheel chair in the back of it. I have been down this road. We are having a practical demo next week.
You might care to check here. http://www.alliedmobility.com/our_vehicles/used/index.cfm/4/1241/4/1

tanith

I agree with Ruby Moon, I used to work in Hospital Transport and as long as there are patients attending apps at hospital the transport is available to transport them home, they always use local contracted taxis services for out of hours work anyway. He would only be allowed to travel in his chair in an ambulance with proper clamps and restraints , otherwise he would be helped out of the chair into a seat by the driver... you need to state to the hospital that you categorically (sp) cannot continue to transport him 3 times a week and that he NEEDS TRANSPORT put it in writing also..
With some prompting they may be able to change his time for dialysis too, although you may have to wait for an earlier slot to come available it is possible to change his times...