Who provides daily living AIDS?

Katykat

91 yr old MiL just had 2 weeks in hospital with pneumonia. Prior to this she was fit and active albeit she struggled with stairs, bathing etc, but refused help as she felt it was a sign of weakness. Well now, she couldn't be discharged because she couldn't manage the steep stairs in her terraced house ( bedroom & bathroom/ toilet upstairs). She is in short term intermediate care home pending alterations to her home prior to discharge. She gets AA & pension credit so would in theory qualify for Disability grant for stairlift, bathroom medifications but we were told that there is a 12-18 month waiting time for this grant. So, we are funding the stairlift. Today, the OT told me that they do not provide bathing aids, grab rails etc. So what exactly do they provide? Surely they have a duty to make sure that the home is safe and accessible. What do elderly people do who have no family to fall back on? My MiL is lucky that she has family, but we don't have a bottomless purse as we only have our pension and it's worrying us that she will be sent home to manage in an unsafe environment. ( her son, my OH is unwell himself so is limited what he can do for her.

nannytone_2

the OT tells you what ( in their opinion) is needed to make living at home safe!

as you have found out, there are grants available but they take time to apply for and to be granted.

your MIL receives AA and that is what she is supposed to meet her needs with ( or as many as possible)

due to funding cuts, many councils are not in the position to be able to fund items of equipment as they used to.

mrcol1000

Our local council (in conjunction with the NHS) provides home aids up to a certain amount with no means testing. I think it is about £500. Over that and you have to apply which takes a long time. For stuff under £500 the OT decides you need it and can get it in under a week, slightly more if you need someone to install it.

https://www.betterlifehealthcare.com and https://www.careco.co.uk are good companies if you need to buy stuff yourself.

Have you tried contacting Age Concern? They may be able to point you in the right direction

DomRavioli

Katykat wrote: »

91 yr old MiL just had 2 weeks in hospital with pneumonia.

Prior to this she was fit and active albeit she struggled with stairs, bathing etc, but refused help as she felt it was a sign of weakness. Well now, she couldn't be discharged because she couldn't manage the steep stairs in her terraced house ( bedroom & bathroom/ toilet upstairs).

She is in short term intermediate care home pending alterations to her home prior to discharge.

She gets AA & pension credit so would in theory qualify for Disability grant for stairlift, bathroom medifications but we were told that there is a 12-18 month waiting time for this grant. So, we are funding the stairlift.

Today, the OT told me that they do not provide bathing aids, grab rails etc. So what exactly do they provide? Surely they have a duty to make sure that the home is safe and accessible.

What do elderly people do who have no family to fall back on? My MiL is lucky that she has family, but we don't have a bottomless purse as we only have our pension and it's worrying us that she will be sent home to manage in an unsafe environment. ( her son, my OH is unwell himself so is limited what he can do for her.

Grab rails et al are supposed to be paid for out of her AA - it is for extra expenses, not living costs. Her age makes no difference, social care has been cut to most people of all ages and abilities.

Grants are available, but 12-18 months sounds about right as the poster above stated. And for those who cannot afford them, they can have commodes, downstairs beds and strip washes, which are all safe, affordable and accessible for most people.

You can purchase things like grab rails fairly cheaply as well as bathing aids - there's more than enough choice on the internet, and most people can put them up with a drill (no specialist knowledge needed for a grab rail), or you could ask your local age concern or age UK to put them up as most have a handyman service for a small charge.

FrugalinShropshire

The OT department should do an assessment at home with her to see what she needs. They will make suggestions and should provide a commode. My OH recieved a commode, raised toilet seat, perching stool and adjustable table. We put grab rails up ourselves, very inexpensive from Ableworld.

PasturesNew

Could a loo/shower be put downstairs at all?

I'd rather have my bed put downstairs and have a loo/shower down there than risk my neck relying on contraptions to get me up/down when nobody else is about.

lurkylurky

I have a bath chair and perching stool on long term loan from The Red Cross. They loan out other equipment as well. Here's a link:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Health-and-social-care/Independent-living/Services-for-people-with-disabilities/Community-equipment-service

Boots.com have some reasonably priced aids:

http://www.boots.com/en/Pharmacy-Health/Health-shop/Mobility-daily-living-aids/Bathroom-toileting-aids/

There's some information here on financial help:

https://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vat-relief

- particularly useful is the fact that she may be eligible for VAT relief. I bought the Betterlife 12" suction grab rail which is £5.59 after VAT relief from Lloyds Pharmacy. There's a box to tick to get VAT relief once you go to checkout. My OH has been using this for 5 years now with no problems and he's no lightweight. We also bought a spare to take on holiday. Here you go:

http://www.lloydspharmacy.com/en/bathroom-and-personal-hygiene#first

Savvy_Sue

lurkylurky wrote: »

I bought the Betterlife 12" suction grab rail which is £5.59 after VAT relief from Lloyds Pharmacy. There's a box to tick to get VAT relief once you go to checkout. My OH has been using this for 5 years now with no problems and he's no lightweight. We also bought a spare to take on holiday.

If it's all possible, get grab rails fitted 'properly' rather than relying on suction. While I'm sure you've not had any problems with them, I believe you do have to be very very careful with them.

Katykat

Thank you all. Able world is installing the stairlift next week. OT is doing a home assessment after that & we will just have to accept what they offer & buy whatever else they can't provide. I'm not so worried now because the short term home she is in is excellent. Run by Social service, her health & mobility has improved so much. She is getting good food, company and safety 24 hrs.

Prinzessilein

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

If it's all possible, get grab rails fitted 'properly' rather than relying on suction. While I'm sure you've not had any problems with them, I believe you do have to be very very careful with them.

I just want to echo this.

When I had an OT assessment some years ago - before I moved to where I live now - it was recommended that I have a hand rail outside, by the front door. (This, along with my wetroom conversion, was paid for by the local council....all other 'aids' were paid for out of my DLA)...the OT told me that this outside rail would be a heavy-duty one, securely bolted to the wall...and if I wanted additional rails within the house she strongly urged me to get the secure indoor ones, and NOT rely on suction models. Some people go years without an issues with the suction rails - but the OT was aware of a few accidents when the suctions fail and caused a fall.

I would also recommend visiting DIAL - they were brilliant for me. They had a selection of aids available for me to try out - whilst they didn't sell any of them, it was useful to see what was available, and DIAL could then give me details of suppliers.

Personally, I would also recommend Lakeland ltd. They are not a s disability-aid shop, but they have a large number of items (mostly kitchen appliances) that can make life easier....for example battery operated can-opener, gauntlet gloves, small light microwaveable saucepans.

Mojisola

Katykat wrote: »

91 yr old MiL just had 2 weeks in hospital with pneumonia. Prior to this she was fit and active albeit she struggled with stairs, bathing etc, but refused help as she felt it was a sign of weakness.

My parents felt the same but had their thinking changed by an OT who pointed out that using aids was prolonging their independence, not 'giving in' to weakness.

They both wore glasses and she made the point that they hadn't 'managed' all their lives with poor vision; they'd used glasses to make life easier.