Need To Do Something. But what?

xsunnysuex

About 2 months ago my mum had a new front door fitted by her local council. Apparently all council property's are getting them. The door is lovely. But my mum is unable to lock it when she goes out, resulting in her having to leave it unsecure. The door is a really strange door. You have to close it and physically lock it from the outside. Not like most doors that you close, and that's it. My mum has to push the handle up until it clicks. And then use the key to lock it. My mum has severe arthritis in her wrists, and is unable to push the handle up far enough to lock the door. I even struggled to lock it, and I'm not disabled. She has complained several times to the council and the door suppliers. Both places tell her to speak to the other. A few people said they will look into it, but nothing gets done. One person even said there's nothing they can do because that's the standard door they use. Well I'm really sick and tired of her getting fobbed off like this. I'm not having her safety compromised like this. How would these people like it if they had to leave their home unlocked when they go out. This morning I phoned and complained. I was told someone would come sometime this week to see my mum about it. But if nothing still gets done. Where do I go from here? Should I contact my mum's MP? I am really getting very angry now.

fluffnutter

It would drive me mad too, sunnysue. I know the types of door you mean and I can't work them out. I think in the first instance you're going to need to wait and see if someone from the council comes to see your mum. I firmly believe the issue lies with the council to resolve (and not the door suppliers). They're just fitting what they've been asked to, and your mum's circumstances are probably fairly uncommon. If no one were able to lock these doors, they wouldn't be still being supplied. Keep stressing to the council that your mum's arthritis is the reason she can't lock the door and that they must arrange for something else to be fitted. Stress that she can't go out until this is resolved without risking burglary, so she's effectively housebound. Is it possible for you to go round if they turn up? That way, you'll be able to see for yourself what's going on and you might feel less impotent and frustrated.

I know this is a stupid question... but does she have another entrance that she can use in the meantime? Or does she still have the other door? Someone might be able to fit her old one back on.

fluffnutter

How friendly is your mum (or you) with her neighbours? Can you see if anyone else is having problems? If so, a concerted effort might help to make the council take this more seriously. If everyone complained, it might help.

xsunnysuex

fluffnutter wrote: »

Is it possible for you to go round if they turn up? That way, you'll be able to see for yourself what's going on and you might feel less impotent and frustrated.

I know this is a stupid question... but does she have another entrance that she can use in the meantime? Or does she still have the other door? Someone might be able to fit her old one back on.

Thank you for your reply. It's not possible for me to be there. As I live in London with no transprt, and she lives in Surrey. But I could ask my brother to be there. She has a back door leading to the back garden. But nothing else. They took the old door away.

lindos90

xsunnysuex wrote: »

About 2 months ago my mum had a new front door fitted by her local council. Apparently all council property's are getting them. The door is lovely. But my mum is unable to lock it when she goes out, resulting in her having to leave it unsecure. The door is a really strange door. You have to close it and physically lock it from the outside. Not like most doors that you close, and that's it. My mum has to push the handle up until it clicks. And then use the key to lock it. My mum has severe arthritis in her wrists, and is unable to push the handle up far enough to lock the door. I even struggled to lock it, and I'm not disabled. She has complained several times to the council and the door suppliers. Both places tell her to speak to the other. A few people said they will look into it, but nothing gets done. One person even said there's nothing they can do because that's the standard door they use. Well I'm really sick and tired of her getting fobbed off like this. I'm not having her safety compromised like this. How would these people like it if they had to leave their home unlocked when they go out. This morning I phoned and complained. I was told someone would come sometime this week to see my mum about it. But if nothing still gets done. Where do I go from here? Should I contact my mum's MP? I am really getting very angry now.

If the door company/council can't help I would suggest contacting social services. You mention she has arthritis, so she may be having difficulty with other things around the house. There are adaptations and aids that can be done to an external door, to allow someone to gain access, and indeed secure their property (from key turners to automatic door entry systems), but the solution would completely depend on her assessed needs and level of problem.

I know the type of door you mean, probably UPVC, lifting the handle flicks out the catches around the edge of the door. They are a nightmare, particularly the frame as they can be a tripping hazard, and are a nightmare if it needs ramping.

To see what is possible she would require an assessment (which would probably be an OT or similar) Probably will not be done very quickly though, as there will be waiting lists and may not be seen as a high priority (as its more of an inconvienience issue)

I would personally google around and see if an alternative lock system is possible and buy it for her (with council permission).

Its all very good the council upgrading, but they need to check its actually an improvement, shouldnt have taken that long to check if there was anyone with disabilities along the road who may need something different.

Remember a time when our council was upgrading the bathrooms, one tennant had been assessed by SS for a level access shower, so didnt need the new bathroom put in, but it was on the upgrade list, so 'had' to be done, but then was ripped out a couple of months later when the shower was put in. Total waste of money!

xsunnysuex

fluffnutter wrote: »

How friendly is your mum (or you) with her neighbours? Can you see if anyone else is having problems? If so, a concerted effort might help to make the council take this more seriously. If everyone complained, it might help.

Unfortunately my mums house and another house are the only council houses left in her little cul de sac. The other council house has new tenants that my mum doesn't know.

xsunnysuex

lindos90 wrote: »

To see what is possible she would require an assessment (which would probably be an OT or similar) Probably will not be done very quickly though, as there will be waiting lists and may not be seen as a high priority (as its more of an inconvienience issue)

She did actually have an assessment a few months ago. As a result she had a new wet room installed, and her old bathroom taken out. No one mentioned the front door though.

charlesworth82

where does she live......

xsunnysuex

charlesworth82 wrote: »

where does she live......

She lives in Surrey.

PZH

Have you tried Age Concern or similar to see if they can help. I remember the neighbour at my mums old house getting lever taps to help with turning on and off.

They might be able to assist - or suggest ways of closing the door easily ?

Maldives_lover

I would contact her local councillor, they can usually get things moving fairly quickly, particuarly when the local elections will be held in a couple of months. Good luck.