Wheelchairs

formaldehyde_perfume

saving_pennies wrote: »

Re: Housing. Another system where you have to fight for what your entitled to.

Yep. I managed to go and talk to the housing association in person today and basically they have messed up, I shouldn't even be on the system and I shouldn't have been contacted. The reason I was put in band D is because that's a sort of default band until a medical assessment has been done.

I am feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment. It's like I am a juggler and there are too many balls for me to cope with. My body has responded as it always does, by shutting down and making be sleep a lot. I'm sure it's just a blip, but if it's not I will just have to ride it out as always.

Thank you to everyone for your comments. I'll update about the wheelchair situation when something more happens.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

FP, the OT will try to find out what difficulties you have, whether there are adaptations that you could use now, what housing would be suitable for you, what would need to be done if you were to be offered a place, etc. Once their report is done, this usually changes the banding and can be very useful for getting things done. It can upset you a bit because it concentrates on what you can't do, but potentially leads to something good in the future - your own home.

The important thing is to get a copy and badger the housing to confirm the banding change as a result of the OT report.

Chin up, you're about to get something useful in your efforts to go independent!

saving_pennies

Hi everyone,

Thought I'd return to this thread and update it. I got my NHS powerchair a few days ago, complete with tilt function (and an added recline which OT doesn't really want me to use as he said it can cause lots of injury. I am so so happy and enjoying freedom it is giving me.

Thanks for everyone who responded to this thread. For those needing a wheelchair, I hope my story gives hope and encourages others to challenge NHS wheelchair services if they try and give you a chair that doesn't meet your needs.

Now a little challenge with getting a motability car. I've started a new thread on that one.

Best wishes

formaldehyde_perfume

That's great news, well done.

I have my manual chair, it is comfortable but my mum can't push me in it for more than 5 or 10 minutes without it causing her physical problems. I haven't had the energy to try and deal with the issue of an electric chair, but I am going to the peterborough mobility show on friday so that will be on the long list of things to test out there.

Oh, I also had my OT assessment, it was really easy and she got some things to make life a bit easier, and had some useful ideas too. She couldn't do too much though as I'm now actively seeking my own property from the housing association (the stairs are just too much for me and I'm also worried about my safety with them as I'm on my own all day) so I've only got things that I can take with me if/when I move and if I think I need any help at that point then she'll come and see if she can help again.

saving_pennies

Hi formaldehyde_perfume,

I'm glad you have plans to go to mobility show and that the OT visit was useful. I can understand not having energy to deal with getting electric chair. I know everything can be a battle at times. Luckily I was in a place to disagree and take action against the NHS decision to give me a manual chair. I'm not always in that place! Is there anyone who can help you?

My first OT visit was when I was living in my old ground floor flat. It was temporary accomodation so she could only give portable items and said when I get a permanent place she would reassess.

I used evidence from my GP and OT to show how my old flat was not suitable for me. When I was offered a new flat, the OT came with me to the viewing to check if it would meet my needs, e.g. no steps, all same level flooring, wide hallway etc and door space adequate for wheelchair, suitable parking etc. She then put in an application for disabled facilities grant for a wet room and the housing association made minor adaptations like changing gate to accessible one, putting key safe in place and grab rails etc.

I'm not sure where you live, but in my area there is a housing system where you are put into one of 5 bands and can then bid weekly via computer and the person with highest band/need is considered for the house/flat. Having medical needs and living in unsuitable accomodation all help move people up the bands or point system.

take care,

formaldehyde_perfume

saving_pennies wrote: »

Hi formaldehyde_perfume,

I'm glad you have plans to go to mobility show and that the OT visit was useful. I can understand not having energy to deal with getting electric chair. I know everything can be a battle at times. Luckily I was in a place to disagree and take action against the NHS decision to give me a manual chair. I'm not always in that place! Is there anyone who can help you?

My first OT visit was when I was living in my old ground floor flat. It was temporary accomodation so she could only give portable items and said when I get a permanent place she would reassess.

I used evidence from my GP and OT to show how my old flat was not suitable for me. When I was offered a new flat, the OT came with me to the viewing to check if it would meet my needs, e.g. no steps, all same level flooring, wide hallway etc and door space adequate for wheelchair, suitable parking etc. She then put in an application for disabled facilities grant for a wet room and the housing association made minor adaptations like changing gate to accessible one, putting key safe in place and grab rails etc.

I'm not sure where you live, but in my area there is a housing system where you are put into one of 5 bands and can then bid weekly via computer and the person with highest band/need is considered for the house/flat. Having medical needs and living in unsuitable accomodation all help move people up the bands or point system.

take care,

Thank you.

We have a similar housing system here and I am in band B which is second from top (A-D) but unfortunately even though I've been registered since the 25th of March there has only been one property even vaguely suitable for me come up, and that was withdrawn last week. I am currently fighting the housing association as any properties suitable for me all have age restrictions on them, there appears to be simply no compromise. Even though my file says 'high medical need' , someone who is fit and healthy at 57 years old can get a property "designed for over 55's" yet I have several trees worth of paper work documenting my disabilities and I would simply not be shortlisted as I am not the correct age. To me, this is madness. Anyway, it's too late to be getting on my soap box. The next properties are being made available today (thursday) at noon, here's hoping there's something I can apply for..

I hope things are going well for everyone, despite the moaning things with me are doing alright, plodding along, which is nice

dori2o

Hi there,

I don't mean to hijack the thread but I am finding it now more and more difficult to walk more than a couple of hundred meters at a time (with stops) and have started 'borrowing' my FIL wheelchair that he no longer uses, but it is quite old and very heavy both for self propelling and for whoever is pushing.

I feel the need more and more over the past few months to use the chair and have informed work that it may be a possibility that I may need my workstation altering should I need to use it on a more permanent basis in the near future.

I get the feeling from my GP that he isn't at the point where he will refer me to medical services to have an assessment, so I have been looking at lightweight wheelchairs on the net originally with a view to buying one, but there is no way I can afford one on my own.

I was thinking of applying for a grant from here http://www.theactfoundation.co.uk/ for a chair.

I have found one I like, it is lightweight, has solid rear wheels which I have been reliably informed are easier to self propel, and it folds down quite small with it's quick release rear wheels (which is what I need as I only drive a Fiat Punto Mk2).

I have 2 questions that have been nagging me.

1, The chair I hav seen is on Ebay, but it is a proper company that requests you complete a VAT exemption form for disability purposes, and the chair is o a buy it now type sale not an auction. The cost delivered is £200. Would the fact it is from an Ebay listing cause a problem?

2, am I simply wasting my time even applying for the grant?

formaldehyde_perfume

dori2o - First of all, thank you, I didn't know that this organisation existed and could be of great help to me in the near future.

Secondly, as I don't know about the grant I can't answer your first question, but it is never a waste of time applying for grants (unless, of course, it is damn obvious you will be refused) so I would go ahead and at least then you have a chance. I've downloaded the claim form and it seems quite straight forward but I would advise you put as much detail as possible even though the allocated boxes are quite small, write on separate paper if necessary.. And good luck

saving_pennies

dori2o wrote: »

http://www.theactfoundation.co.uk/

As for applying - it's worth applying if you meet any criteria they have. The worse thing that can happen is they say no and you have lost the time it took you to complete the form and the cost of an envolope and stamp. Before completing the form you could phone them with your specific situation. I found them very friendly. Although when I phoned this organisation and was told I needed to supply a OT report saying I needed the wheelchair/powerchair, plus evidence that NHS would not be able to supply one.

Good luck!