Stroke victim help

Fishingtime

Please move this thread if I am in the wrong place

My friend just had a stroke a week ago.

He lives on his own and has no family to help him, He gets £200 a month pension, and the rest of his money is from a part time job which will now stop.
Who could I contact to help him sort his finances out ?
What I mean about that is help in paying his rent, tax and household bills

[Deleted User]

he should contact CAB for advice or if of a certain age then AGE UK you could also look at the website turn2us which has a benefits calculator

Axled

The stroke association may also have specific local information but this help is steadily being cut by the ccgs in my area. Local stroke groups may also be useful to contact if the cab or age uk can't help as woodbine suggested.

Fishingtime

Thanks for the suggestions

I am trying the CAB but as yet still no getting through to them

Indie_Kid

If he needs help, he (or someone else) needs to contact social services. If he's still in hospital, they should be able to sort this out for him.

suse*

adult social services might be able to help if he needs any adaptations at home. Might be worth giving them a call and seeing what they can do in your area, funds permitting of course.

Fishingtime

Thanks Indie and suse*

I will try and contact social services in the morning see if they can at least get the ball rolling
At the moment he is still in hospital, he's been in a week now.

He probably would need some home help, as he can't or rather won't cook for himself, all he ever eats is takeaways.

cattermole

Don't let him (if you can) agree to a discharge until the care he needs at home is in place they should do this as this is what the guidelines say. Many people don't realise this, particularly relstives. they should assess his needs etc before goes home and arrange for the care to be in place including any equipment needed.

The hospital social worker is part of the adult social services team. There should be an assessment by an OT and Physio as well included in this. The problem is they need the beds and often because people understansbly people are desperate to get home, pride and say they are ok to do things they can't.

Some areas also have internediate hospitals they transfer to for a more detailed assessment and rehab.

I wouldnt bother with CAB in this instance. Too long winded.

For Housing benefit and council tax speak to council who will send forms is he in social housing if so speak to them as well.

For attendance allowance if over 65 for care you can download the form. You can't claim this until he leaves hospital. Ageuk I agree are excellent and will help with completing the form.

Good that you are concerned for your friend like this especially when hes got no family.

lessonlearned

Your friend will need to be assessed before leaving hospital, he may need a period in rehab before finally going home.

The hospital should work with adult social services and this should include a benefits check to help,sort out finances. If they don't offer then make sure either you or your friend asks for one.

You can contact PALS, (Patient Liason Services) who will point you in the right direction. They will be based in the hospital. They can be very helpful.

All this takes time to kick in so tell your friend he will need to be a patient patient. Definitely agree that he should not be tempted to go home too early until everything is in place.

kittykat17

Hi Fishingtime. When my mum had her first stroke the hospital wouldn't let her come home until the hospital social worker and OT had organised help for her at home as well as any equipment she needed at that time (including hospital bed, hoist, commode, etc). It took six weeks to organise everything so she was sent to a rehab ward before she was discharged.


The hospital should have their own social worker and ot so, as lessonlearned said speak to PALS or ask the ward sister / head nurse for advise and help.


Your friend is lucky to have someone like you looking out for them and I hope he can make a good recovery. Good luck.