help - adaptations for elderly person who has had a fall

Clowance

Hi
My 97 year uncle is in hospital following a fall and is slowly learning to walk again. He will be out I would think in 2 or 3 weeks. He lives alone in a house with steep stairs, it has a downstairs loo/sink but no room anywhere for a shower.
Currently my thinking is :
a riser recliner for lounge
a stairlift - to get to upstairs bathroom and bedroom
an electric adjustable bed
rails to cope with two steps to back and front doors, maybe a ramp
possibly an electric scooter

Does anyone out there have experience of any of the above and can offer recommendations?

I don't think he would qualify for a disability facility grant, but if anyone knows the amount of savings that disqualifies you I would love to know. He won't comply with means tests unless its likely he will get anything out of it so it would be handy to know whether to bother or not.

Hoping someone could give me advice?

thanks

Farway

Because he lives on his own the hospital will assess his house for suitability before they let him out. I know this because it happened to me
It is things like this that cause the "bed blocking" I was one so no slur meant or intended

As part of the assessment he will have to walk & climb stairs, under supervision, in hospital. the result of this assessment is linked to whatever is decided he will need for independent living.
The rest follows from there

The hospital or whoever it is in Social services will arrange, free, handrails and maybe a ramp. They did for me, I do not require a ramp

They also provided, free, bed rail and high seated chair

I did not need handrail for stairs but it was intimated if I didit would be fitted

I do not know about stair lift, never needed one, but sounds a good idea

There are second hand, refurbed stair lifts available, same goes for mobility scooters

If he has not got one already, get him a cheap, small, mobile PAYG phone to always carry in his pocket, just in case, maybe two and stick one in the bathroom?

Be_Happy

You shouldn't really have to deal with this at all. Occupational Therapist should be on the case, through the hospital.

They will visit house, see what needs done and advise on what is free and what grants are available.

Re stairlifts, I found out from experience (myself and numerous others) that these can be very difficult to resell when no longer required. There are even firms who will take them 'off your hands' and CHARGE for the removal.

Robin9

We modified the ground floor of my fathers house - an open plan lounge diner - to establish a bedroom - by putting curtains up to create a divider.

He had no downstairs loo so it was a case for a commode. He attended a day centre so showered there,

4 care visits a day

pollypenny

From my father's experience I have little confidence in OT assessments.

A proud man, my father kept insisting that he could do this and that, training on the side stairs in the hospital were useless. On crutches, he couldn!!!8217;t even carry a cup from worktop to table and he certainly couldn!!!8217;t manage a bath.

He lasted a week at home before being readmitted, again with some stupid fiction that he had been walking the dog. Chance would be a fine thing!

SevenOfNine

Check out AgeUK, they can help & advise on his physical & financial needs.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk

...........and be sure you know ALL about the following before agreeing to discharge, particularly into the current somewhat unsafe environment of his home, because for sure no-one in the NHS is going to tell you.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/health-services/nhs-continuing-healthcare/

elsien

He's unlikely to get all that lot even if he qualifies. It will still need an OT assessment. I don't think things like an electric scooter would be funded, although he may qualify for a wheelchair.
According to the below link savings over £6000 are taken into account.

https://www.scope.org.uk/support/disabled-people/disabled-facilities-grant

Is he a home owner? If renting, would he consider looking at more accessories accommodation?

Clowance

I suspect he won't qualify for any financial help but it was more what companies etc were the best I was hoping to get information about from peoples experience.
As for continuing healthcare - a few years ago I worked for 6 months doing admin for the one in my area, I know its really hard to get without a definite medical need, and at that time not being able to get out of bed by yourself didn't qualify. However its probably worth a go.
thanks everybody for your responses.