87 year old Stairlift turned down by Council, need help in appeal

Prinzessilein

Some council/social housing CAN be a bit rough...on the other hand some of it can be really nice!

I living in a council retirement complex ...I was given the place,despite being under retirement age, as it was the best option to suit my disability needs...everyone here has there own flat (bedroom, lounge, kitchen, bathroom) , all with either walk in or level-access shower...there is a communal lounge for those who want more company, and there is a well kept garden -council maintained but with the option of having your own raised bed for those keen on gardening (some residents grow salad veggies for the summer, one has a truly magnificent herb garden, and a few like to grow flowers)...and we have as much independence as we want/need....is it perfect? No, of course not!...but it is better than I had ever thought it would be!

I have known people get a place here after less than a week on the housing list (if there needs are great enough and if a flat is vacant)...if the OP's mother had the option of a place like this I would tell her to grab it with both hands before someone else gets it!

elsien

peterbaker wrote: »

The council are being bloody-minded and for what? We are talking about an 87 year old for chrissakes. I hope some of you who think that's a reasonable way to run social care for the elderly, experience when you get to that age, the level of being pushed around that makes you feel very uncomfortable and depressed and no longer in control of your own destiny. We aren't all adaptable home-hoppers and some of us are more resilient than others. You might then learn something about fairness - or karma at any rate.

My working life is spent with older people no longer in charge of their own destiny. People who want to stay at home but can't because 4 calls a day is the most the local authority will fund, and if you can't self fund, need help at night and don't have family willing or able to help then residential care is the only option.
Whatever your feelings this is the reality of the current social care system and the shortage of funding for a rapidly ageing population. There are many many older people who want to stay in their own home but can't for a variety of reasons. This lady at least is being offered an alternative.

Bonniepurple

peterbaker wrote: »

Glad to see you are minding your own business. Simples. Let others mind theirs.

PeterBaker - I am a tax payer. The most appropriate, efficient and best use of tax receipts IS my business. I do not know what your issue is, but I can only assume that you are not a homeless family sofa surfing because of elderly house blockers.

OP - I feel for you. In this case there are no winners, only least worst losers. This is likely to mean that your relative needs to move to a more appropriate place. Sadly, often people don’t plan so far ahead and think that a large house that was perfect at 40 might not be so ideal at 80.

peterbaker

Bonniepurple wrote: »

PeterBaker - I am a tax payer. The most appropriate, efficient and best use of tax receipts IS my business. I do not know what your issue is, but I can only assume that you are not a homeless family sofa surfing because of elderly house blockers.

Get this: You don't even pay half as much tax as you need to to even consider, let alone publish, comments like that. You get off lightly. This is a low wage, low tax economy and it is an uncaring society that has lost sight of proper values. I say again, mind your own business, especially if you are now of a mind to start calling 87 year olds "elderly house blockers".

peterbaker

elsien wrote: »

My working life is spent with older people no longer in charge of their own destiny. People who want to stay at home but can't because 4 calls a day is the most the local authority will fund, and if you can't self fund, need help at night and don't have family willing or able to help then residential care is the only option.

No-one has said this particular senior citizen has yet reached that stage.

Whatever your feelings this is the reality of the current social care system and the shortage of funding for a rapidly ageing population. There are many many older people who want to stay in their own home but can't for a variety of reasons. This lady at least is being offered an alternative.

She appears to be being coerced. She could stay in her own home, but the statutory adult social care authority is engaging in appalling politics, and subsequent apparent coercion as I say.

tomtom256

peterbaker wrote: »

No-one has said this particular senior citizen has yet reached that stage.

She appears to be being coerced. She could stay in her own home, but the statutory adult social care authority is engaging in appalling politics, and subsequent apparent coercion as I say.

It's not coercion, she cannot do stairs, the cheaper option, which is a more suitable property freeing up a much needed family home, has been offered.

I don't see what the issue is with moving. We all get attached to things, but the memories will still be there.

jazzy

tomtom256 wrote: »

I don't see what the issue is with moving. We all get attached to things, but the memories will still be there.

Think it may be a bit different for a 87 year old where moving is concerned.

tomtom256

jazzy wrote: »

Think it may be a bit different for a 87 year old where moving is concerned.

Why, are you assuming she has alzheimers and can't remember, if so not all elderly people are affected by this?

jazzy

Never mentioned alzheimers.

LadyDee

When my brother died a few years ago, my sister-in-law thought about moving to a smaller, more manageable home but decided on balance she'd prefer to stay where they had been so happy for so many years. She did however have my brother's ashes put in an urn so that when/if the time comes she can no longer manage the house she can "take him with her". We all thought it weird at the time. Having read this thread I'm not sure it was so weird.

If you want an "aah" moment - she puts his urn out in the garden in the summer by his favourite seat, but brings it indoors in the winter, "as he hated the cold".