Disability options - council house

sweety

Can anyone offer any advice re. the best way to help get my parents heating changed from coal fire to gas? My parents are both 69 , my mother has a hearing loss (98%) disability and my father has 20% loss of movement in upper limbs due to white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome. Both these conditions are causing me concern, as they have to remove the hot ashes from the coal fire each morning - my father struggles to pick the coal tray up due to lack of feeling in his hands and my mother cannot hear if she has dropped a burning ember on the floor on the way to outside. As the house is a council house and as the current coal fire is over 15 years old and due for replacement anyway, what is the best route to go, as the council will probably look to replace like for like ie coal again? Would it be better to contact Social Services (or whoever) or go direct to the council to plead their case. PS they wont allow me to do anything for them either.

Thanks for any help/advice.


sweety

xxxx

TAZ

my mum lives in a council property and last year there was a major overhaul on the bathrooms, my mum can not get down into the bath so we contacted the council to ask that we had her a shower fitted, the council told us we had to contact SS to have a assessment done of her needs and this was done. mum now had a lovely power shower fitted (disability friendly) i beleive SS actually funded the bathroom change so that may be the best way to go.
contact SS for an assessment you might find they can help in other ways too.

chugalug

If I remember correctly, all social housing has to be brought up to the decent homes standard by (I think) 2010. This includes installing central heating. Could you ask the LA whether or not this is in the pipeline? Failing that a visit to social services as has previously been suggested. They have a duty to undertake an assessment (just not a duty to provide for needs) but this could be a place to start. What about Age Concern? They might know of any assistance available. Or the CAB.

lil_me

Council won't replace with another coal fire usually. Occupational Health at the local council sorted getting GCH in a house near me with elderly occupants.

chirpy007

In the first instance contact your parents "Estate Manager" this is the person who is assigned to your parents through the council to assist them.Ask them to visit to show them what the problems are and that on medical grounds the heating needs changing. This should start to ball in motion. Its always beneficial to have a doctors letter stating that it is dangerous etc for your parents to continue to heat their home in this fashion and they could cause injury to themselves. If they turn you down dont leave it !!!!!!! they shouldnt but you never know. Also this is a good time of year but they all have there new budgets and money isnt as tight as towards the end of the financial year. Good luck let us know how you get on