Social Services help

kingfisherblue

I contacted OT for a couple of adaptations because my son is disabled. It took four months for rails to be added to my outdoor steps, but I did receive a verbal apology that it took so long - it usually only takes a few weeks. The downstairs toilet needs to be replaced (it's one that also acts as a bidet) and that has taken almost six months so far. There isn't a date for replacement yet.

In our area, there is a means test for adaptations, so be aware that you might be charged a proportion of the cost.

sunnyone

In most areas you need to have critical needs with personel care before you are offered any help at all and with the current cost cutting measure more and more people will be refused help by SS for anything at all, we're all likely to feel it.

Ramps depened on so many things and we see people here who cant walk at all yet they are refused ramps which imprisons them and SS even refuse help to try and get up/down a couple of steps so that they can go out and they were refused a powerchair because your home has to be wheelchair accessable before they will even consider it (can anyone remember the posters name? it wasnt that long ago)

How many steps do you want ramped and what will they be carrying weight wise?

Samwiches can be made in advance and thats what they expect in my area, same with the washing (which is very rarely funded at all anyway) do you need help with personel care?

What help do you need to get around the house?

The good but daft thing is your husbands wages arnt taken into account for the finacial assessment unless they turn into capital.

cydney65

I'm waiting for another assessment-my first social worker did one then went off sick before putting it on the system :mad: I will be reallocated next week and then I'm on that phone for an assessment. I need care in the mornings washing and dressing. In my area there is no help for cooking (we get wiltshire farm foods 'cos we can't prepare meals) and no help for any cleaning/domestic work so just be aware that this may apply to your area too OP...just a heads up.

CydneyX

lyniced

sunnyone wrote: »

In most areas you need to have critical needs with personel care before you are offered any help at all and with the current cost cutting measure more and more people will be refused help by SS for anything at all, we're all likely to feel it.

Ramps depened on so many things and we see people here who cant walk at all yet they are refused ramps which imprisons them and SS even refuse help to try and get up/down a couple of steps so that they can go out and they were refused a powerchair because your home has to be wheelchair accessable before they will even consider it (can anyone remember the posters name? it wasnt that long ago)

How many steps do you want ramped and what will they be carrying weight wise?

Samwiches can be made in advance and thats what they expect in my area, same with the washing (which is very rarely funded at all anyway) do you need help with personel care?

What help do you need to get around the house?

The good but daft thing is your husbands wages arnt taken into account for the finacial assessment unless they turn into capital.

Getting around the house I ahve a tri-wheeler thing (you know the one - seat at the front and breaks on the handles) but I do still fall over now and again. I can drive but have a wheelchair in the boot, which I need someone to get out for me. Got toilet adaptions and a fold down seat in the shower. Live in a bungalow, so at least there are no stairs to negotiate! I had a camera/intercom fitted by the front door so I don't have to kill myself trying to answer it. All these adaptions I've paid for myself, but its more then physical help really. Mornings are particularly bad - I'm not going to go into all the difficulties, but you can imagine!

Savvy_Sue

What you might find helpful for peace of mind is an alarm system, with a pendant you wear round your neck. If you fall, you press a button and get through to a control centre: if they can't hear you via the intercom unit they try to phone, if they can't raise you that way they contact your keyholders who come round and see what's up.

I think Mum has hers through what is now Age UK (was Help the Aged), and I would check the link for you were I not on an unbelievably slow connection! Your local authority may have a similar scheme. The people at the control centre are all really lovely, very friendly, and when I phoned to say that Dad had died they said Mum could phone any time just for a chat if she wanted to. It would be a lovely thought if she could hear well enough to use the phone!

sunnyone

lyniced wrote: »

Getting around the house I ahve a tri-wheeler thing (you know the one - seat at the front and breaks on the handles) but I do still fall over now and again. I can drive but have a wheelchair in the boot, which I need someone to get out for me. Got toilet adaptions and a fold down seat in the shower. Live in a bungalow, so at least there are no stairs to negotiate! I had a camera/intercom fitted by the front door so I don't have to kill myself trying to answer it. All these adaptions I've paid for myself, but its more then physical help really. Mornings are particularly bad - I'm not going to go into all the difficulties, but you can imagine!

can you use a wheelchair indoors?

Wheelchair services will provide a second wheelchair if you really need one but SS wont provide help to get a wheelchair out of the boot when your out, have you had an assessment at a regional mobility center to make sure that you are driving an appropriate car?

Your story is like many others here, paying for aids as and when you need them instead of asking for help till you need it and I hope that you get some help from SS, mornings seem to be the worse time for many disabilties and its the time of day when more help is needed anyway to wash, dress and breakfast.

Savvy_Sue

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I think Mum has hers through what is now Age UK (was Help the Aged), and I would check the link for you were I not on an unbelievably slow connection!

OK, I've found the link for Mum's alarm system, it is here. But as I said, the local authority may have something similar, I know of Sovereign Careline for example which is used by some LAs.