Benefits for disabled

ever

So once those things are finalized, if he gets them, that would make him eligible?

Mojisola

I'm so sorry for your troubles.

You really need to get help. Ask at your local council for an appointment with the Welfare Rights Advisors. They will know what you are entitled to claim and will fill in the forms for you.

Make sure the hospital is organising a Social Worker for your husband and that an Occupational Therapist is going to come and check the house over. There are all sorts of things that will make his life easier.

Our experience is that you have to stand firm about these things. I've just had an elderly relative sent home from hospital who was promised time in a rehab ward and a home assessment before he went home who was suddenly told he could home straight from the surgical ward and given one grab rail to take home with him!

You will have an enormous amount to cope with - make sure you get all the help you can. Ask the Social Workers for a carer's assessment for yourself. That may lead to extra help, eg. Crossroads - https://www.crossroads.org.uk/ - can give you a break which you are really going to need. Another group worth contacting is HomeStart - https://www.home-start.org.uk/homepage

I hope this doesn't upset you but have you and your husband made wills? If the worst should happen, it will be easier for you to sort out things if there is a will in place.

ever

Thanks for all the information. I'll start getting on all this when I'm at the hospital next. My youngest isn't well behaved when we're out, so I generally spend more time walking to the hospital than visiting, so I don't get to ask much.

We haven't made wills, but really that's something we ought to have done when we had our first child, I think, haha. But you're right. It's something we probably ought to get serious about now.

Mojisola

Have you got family and friends rallying round to help? It's an awful lot to cope with on your own.

ever

Unfortunately no. All of my family is still in America and my husband's family is very, well, "detached" is a nice way of putting it. So it's really just me, him, and our two toddlers.

Mojisola

ever wrote: »

Unfortunately no. All of my family is still in America and my husband's family is very, well, "detached" is a nice way of putting it. So it's really just me, him, and our two toddlers.

So sorry. It isn't of any practical help but I'm sending you best wishes.

ever

Thank you

kingfisherblue

You might want to contact your local Carer's Centre - as well as having details on benefits and helping you with Social Services, hospitals, etc, they will also support you emotionally.

Take care

Penny-Pincher!!

If you get the social worker from the hospital to set up a risk assessment for when your OH gets home, then they may be able to help with some care needs, pracital aids etc and take away some of the strain from you. As you have 2 little ones to look after and a very limited income atm, then I would think you should qualify. Do you have savings?

Get in contact with your OH's GP and let them know what is happening and that you need to be referred to OT, district nurses and any other home care that they may know of. This will set the ball in motion and get things moving sooner rather than later. Contact your council and ask for Blue badge forms and your GP can sign them for you. Sounds like you dont drive over here, so you could ask if they do any concessionary travel like dial-a-ride etc....worth asking!

At home, make sure you have practical things set up:

Flannel, soap, towel and bowl (washing)
Bedside table
Easy knife and fork to handle as co-ordination may be difficult
Easy cup/straws to use
Walking aid or for support
Good pillows
Light blankets

HTH

PP
xx

ever

We only just moved to the UK 2 years ago in November (my husband lived here all his life except 3 years in America with me), and it's been really hard since we got here, so no savings at all.

We don't have a car, so for me to get to the hospital I walk with the kids, and for him to go it has to be by ambulance. I just did a quick Google of the Dial-A-Ride thing, but I don't see anything for our area, but there's something called Access Bus that sounds similar. I think the hospital also might have some sort of transportation, but the kiosk is always closed when I'm up there.

Thanks for all of the suggestions!