Elderly relative

Hopalong1

margaretclare wrote: »

HSL specialise in making chairs to fit. You need one with firm arms so that he can use his hands to push himself up. As the physios say 'Nose over toes...'

http://www.hslchairs.com/

You need to measure back of leg, from floor to back of knee.

Hello margaretclare


Thanks very much for that, measured him up last night, that is a top tip.

CH27

HSL sorted a chair for my grandad. They were very helpful.

Hopalong1

Mojisola wrote: »

Having higher chairs with good arms made the world of difference to Mum in particular - she couldn't get over just being able to stand up in one go instead of struggling to extricate herself from their old, lower and saggy furniture!

I would ask around about the underlay and see if others agree with the OT we had.

Hello Mojisola


Thank you too, yes, his old, collapsed armchair will have to go.


He has already said the one he uses in the home's front lounge is the right height, it's a wingback with proper back support, and nice strong wooden arms. We've measured that too... : )


Edit: the occupational therapist is also coming to visit his home, so I will ring and ask her about carpets too, thanks for that point.

Hopalong1

securityguy wrote: »

But surely, the worry at the back of your mind is that the FA has been taking the money, saying "yes, I've put it in these shares" but in fact spending it on fast living. In which case, it's the records held by the FA's company that matter; asking the FA just allows him to prolong the fraud by providing fake records, if that is what is going on.

You need an absolutely cast-iron statement of your relative's financial position. Social services have no standing to say things like "it should be savings accounts at his age"; partly because shares are extremely liquid and can be sold at any time, and partly because it's none of their business so long as the bills are paid. Of course, having to liquidate shares at short notice may lead to getting a poor price, but someone aged 81 shouldn't be in volatile shares anyway.

If you're being sceptical about the FA, you don't want to just ask about the current holdings, you want a full accounting, including dealing within his assets. If it turns out that your relative handed over 100k but now has a 20k portfolio, it's of little comfort to just have a record of the 20k portfolio.

Hello securityguy


Gah! Why on earth didn't I think of that? Thank you it's a very good point, I guess we have been worrying too much just about our relative's health and well-being, plus the state of his home and trying to make it safe.


Definitely guilty of trying not to think about his financials... : (


I will ask our relative tactfully how much of a portfolio he thinks he has at the moment, and then ask the FA's company if they can give us a full accounting.


I don't know why, but, I am dreading finding out. If I start asking our relative, and he really doesn't know, or does have a vague idea, then our relative might start worrying and getting anxious about it himself.... : (


Have to face it though, sooner or later, and keeping everything crossed all is ok......


I think our initial worry was that his shares are volatile and risky, so he should have savings set aside for his care needs, in case the economy should go belly up again.....

Errata

Hopalong1 wrote: »

I will ask our relative tactfully how much of a portfolio he thinks he has at the moment, and then ask the FA's company if they can give us a full accounting.


I don't know why, but, I am dreading finding out. If I start asking our relative, and he really doesn't know, or does have a vague idea, then our relative might start worrying and getting anxious about it himself.... : (

Make the conversation a continuation of the one you had with him when he signed the letter that was sent to the FA. That would be a normal progression of you supporting him in getting his financial affairs in order.

Hopalong1

Slinky wrote: »

A second recommendation for HSL. My MIL wanted a new chair and selected one from an advert. However we decided it would be worthwhile her going and trying them out before buying and we were glad we took her as being very petite the chair she had originally chosen would have been too high for her. She was able to try out lots in their showroom and find the right one to best suit her.

Hello Slinky


That's a good point, he is reasonably tall, so I don't want to get one and he still finds it is too low. Even though we have measured from floor to back of his knee and measured the chair he likes, it's just not the same if he hasn't tried it out.


Must get him to their showroom, there's one not too far away, and let him test them out. Plus he is not really saying what colours he likes just a 'warm' one. I really don't want to order it and then he says he doesn't like that colour!

margaretclare

Hopalong1 wrote: »

Hello Slinky


That's a good point, he is reasonably tall, so I don't want to get one and he still finds it is too low. Even though we have measured from floor to back of his knee and measured the chair he likes, it's just not the same if he hasn't tried it out.


Must get him to their showroom, there's one not too far away, and let him test them out. Plus he is not really saying what colours he likes just a 'warm' one. I really don't want to order it and then he says he doesn't like that colour!

As there's a showroom not far away it would be much the best idea to take him there and allow him to make his own choice.

The last time I was unwise enough to sit on someone's soft squashy sofa it took 2 strong men to get me out of it! Even putting my feet firmly underneath me, on a hard floor, I still couldn't prise myself up because there were no arms to push on.