Extra Bedroom for carer

AdeleLisa

I’m very inexperienced in social housing but by the time I’m finished I should be a pro!

Currently 2yrs Temp Accom. Requested extra bedroom as I need help during night with health problems.
I have had 4 spinal surgeries, arthritis, ileostomy, deal with frequent bowel blockages that require me to lay in a very hot bath. Muscle wastage etc.
Basically I’m unable to deal with leakages, running baths, changing soiled sheets as my pouch won’t stick due to suffering psoriasis around stoma. I cannot cope alone at all at night. I also need to store my medical appliances as I carry 3 months worth at a time. Been told by council they very much doubt I can get an extra room for all my supplies and also for my carer to stay occasionally.
So I’m down for a one bedroom flat which will become my prison as I can’t walk far.
i receive PIP STANDARD DAILY LIVING & STANDARD MOBILITY 

Anyone experienced applying for an extra bedroom and with some advice would be great. I suffer anxiety and being alone at night is causing a lot of distress 

Adele 

KatrinaWaves

I highly doubt you would get an extra room simply for storage of supplies like the pads and stoma bags etc. That seems more like a ‘cupboard’ thing than a whole room.

The carer thing is far more convincing. However I cannot reconcile that you ‘cannot cope alone at night’ with a carer that stays only ‘occasionally’ And this may be the stumbling block with the council, how often does your carer actually stay overnight? 

andreaj1

Hi - it would be advisable to check your council's housing allocation policy and see what this says. I would then suggest that you get as much evidence as possible e.g. supporting evidence from medical experts, needs assessment etc to accompany your application.  Once you have the Council's decision in writing you can then ask for a review if you don't agree with their decision. The deadline for requesting a review is usually 21 days.  I agree with KatrinaWaves though that if the carer is only going to stay occasionally this will not be strong evidence.  Regards.  Andrea

cattie

Why on earth do you carry 3 months of stoma supplies at a time? I'm phoned approx once every 3 weeks by my supplier for my next order & am free to call them any time should I be running short for any reason in the meantime. If supplies needed quickly they are fast tracked & take just one or two days to arrive. I don't have a lot of storage space for my supplies, so this arrangement is perfect for me. If your stoma prescription supplier isn't as efficient then change as there are plenty offering a very good service. 

As you only need a carer occasionally is there any reason why they can't sleep on the couch or a sofa bed? I completely understand blockages & having to change nightclothes, sheets etc. but is there a particular reason you can't do these things alone?  I suffer with some of your medical problems, but have learned to cope with them on my own.

calcotti

2 months ileostomy supplies fit in a small cardboard box for me - but it does sound as if OP may have more than just the ileostomy bags and associated wipes, disposal bags etc. It must be very difficult to deal with if the bags don't stick and consequently OP no doubt goes through bags faster than me.

born_again

Has it been agreed that you could have a carer to cover nights?
As surely that is going to be the only thing that might swing a extra room.

sheramber

If you cannot cope alone at nights why does your carer only stay occasionally?
What happens on the nights the carer is not there? 

KatrinaWaves

sheramber said:

If you cannot cope alone at nights why does your carer only stay occasionally?
What happens on the nights the carer is not there? 

From a small nosey at OPs past posts it appears she is still living with an ex, so maybe he helps. Although another post said he works nights so he can care for her during the day so who knows.