Disabled Pensioner Mum-What Benefits?

sdm197

Hi Everybody ,

I am looking for advice, my Mum is registered disabled and she is housebound. She has great difficulty walking, standing up from a seated position is a real struggle, plus she finds it exceptionally difficult to step into the shower as she has to step over the tray which is old and about 8" high at the edges.

My question is this, she has contacted Social Services months ago, we have chased but nothing is happening so far. She is in debilitating pain everyday for which she is on medication.

She really needs a chair which can lift her to an almost standing position, and a wet room. What are the kinds of things Social Services can do, and what are the conditions of getting help?

I would really appreciate any help on this, as Myself and my Parents have never actually tried to claim for anything, but we have paid tax all our lives.

thanks in advance,

SDM197.

McKneff

Well, you could put an extra step in front of the shower and you can actually buy chairs that lift.

What benefits is she receiving now

Paying tax all your life is irrelevant I'm afraid.

margaretclare

We had an 'old' shower cabinet when my DH needed further knee surgery in 2008 and I had it replaced by a 'lower step-in'.

I spoke to a local company that installs shower cubicles and wet-rooms. They do work for the local authority, and if I'd gone down that route it would have meant a wait of 18 months. Not a lot of use.

I also bought DH a recliner-type chair from HSL - here's a similar company: http://www.simplybritishmobility.co.uk/riser-recliner-chairs.php?gclid=CIb2j--CqbUCFY7JtAodmzgA4w

We've all paid tax all our working lives, not a lot of relevance, I'm afraid, as McKneff says.

You don't say why Mum has great difficulty standing up etc. There must be a reason.

sdm197

McKneff wrote: »

Well, you could put an extra step in front of the shower and you can actually buy chairs that lift.

What benefits is she receiving now

Paying tax all your life is irrelevant I'm afraid.

My Dad gets a Carers allowance, and both get State Pension that is it.

My Dad did build a small wooden step for her, but is very painful for her to negotiate any steps unfortunately.

thanks for your reply,

SDM197.

sdm197

margaretclare wrote: »

We had an 'old' shower cabinet when my DH needed further knee surgery in 2008 and I had it replaced by a 'lower step-in'.

I spoke to a local company that installs shower cubicles and wet-rooms. They do work for the local authority, and if I'd gone down that route it would have meant a wait of 18 months. Not a lot of use.

I also bought DH a recliner-type chair from HSL - here's a similar company: http://www.simplybritishmobility.co.uk/riser-recliner-chairs.php?gclid=CIb2j--CqbUCFY7JtAodmzgA4w

We've all paid tax all our working lives, not a lot of relevance, I'm afraid, as McKneff says.

You don't say why Mum has great difficulty standing up etc. There must be a reason.

she has Osteo Arthritis in pretty much all her joints, if she walks even 50 yards it takes her the next day to recover. She actually has multiple problems far too many to list here.

thanks for the advice,

SDM197.

C.C.L.

sdm197 wrote: »

My Dad gets a Carers allowance, and both get State Pension that is it.

My Dad did build a small wooden step for her, but is very painful for her to negotiate any steps unfortunately.

thanks for your reply,

SDM197.

If your Dad gets carers allowance for looking after your Mum, then your Mum must be getting some sort of disability benefit, either Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance?

sdm197

C.C.L. wrote: »

If your Dad gets carers allowance for looking after your Mum, then your Mum must be getting some sort of disability benefit, either Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance?

Hi,

I will check that, thanks for your reply,

SDM197.

mazza111

Have Social Services even been out to assess her yet? They may be able to help with other aids too. They are better in some areas than they are in other. A friend of the family was in the same position as your mother, they are removing the shower cubicle and installing a wet room floor and providing her with a chair.

Don't get stuck on the shower, there may also be other things that they may be help with.

sdm197

mazza111 wrote: »

Have Social Services even been out to assess her yet? They may be able to help with other aids too. They are better in some areas than they are in other. A friend of the family was in the same position as your mother, they are removing the shower cubicle and installing a wet room floor and providing her with a chair.

Don't get stuck on the shower, there may also be other things that they may be help with.

No, they have not been to see her yet, I have been telling my Mum to keep chasing them, thinking of the old saying those who shout loudest!

Thanks for the advice,

SDM197.

mazza111

sdm197 wrote: »

No, they have not been to see her yet, I have been telling my Mum to keep chasing them, thinking of the old saying those who shout loudest!

Thanks for the advice,

SDM197.

I think you will need to keep chasing them, even if you call on her behalf and make them aware of how much she's struggling. Keep a note of how many falls or stumbles she has too, will let them see how bad things have got for her.

The OT my daughter has has been 2nd to none, she's been absolutely brilliant, hope you get one like that for your mum.