Disabled Gym Membership

Ratita_Presumida

Im in receipt of:
Daily Living & Enhanced Mobility PIP
Ive put 4 stone on in the last 2 years due to muscle wastage from laying in bed with a (SMI) serious mental health problem.
Im a suffer of Osteoarthritis & Spinal stenosis.

If I don’t do something soon I fear I will put my body at risk with either heart disease, Diabetes, skeletal muscle atrophy blah blah blah.

Today I enquired at a council run Gym in Peterborough for discounted membership/free entry to the pool.& Gy

I was told I was able to join on a 6 month membership for £26, my carer was permitted to sit on a chair along side the edge of the room/pool so long as they didn’t touch any equipment nor get into the swimming pool.

Carers do not receive any discounted gym/swimming pool membership. Even if that meant them having to support the disabled person with exercising”

My options now are to basically give up!!! 

I’ve absolutely no strength in my body that quite frankly frightens the life out of me! 

I never imagined in a million years I would experience being

20 stone +

Morbidly obese

Mental health behavioural problems etc

Theres absolutely nothing I can do about my weight 

Please direct in in the right direction 

KxMx

Try your GP, they should have details of local weight loss support. 

Also google "weight loss county name" which should bring up options run by not only commercial organisations but any schemes funded by local health trust. 

Well done for realising things need to change despite your difficulties. I know myself that taking that step isn't easy. 

strawb_shortcake

Do they not do a medical swim? My Mum goes to one but doesn't need assistance but there are plenty in the water with individual carers some of which are volunteers.

You don't need a gym to lose weight though, perhaps look at a gentle walk with or without a carer and build up what you can for free. 

You can also get slimming world/weight watchers on prescription this usually offers 12 weeks free.

There is also weight loss support threads on here in the health and beauty and I think one in Old style money saving

Good luck

HillStreetBlues

If  you need your carer with you for gym or swimming pool and that is their sole purpose ( they won't have use of the facilities)  I can't see how they can be charged.

I personally would complain under the  Equality Act 2010, as having your carer their just to help you is a reasonable adjustment

theoretica

Ask your GP - they may be able to prescribe gym entry or something else that will help.

elsien

Exercise doesn’t have to be at a gym. There are YouTube videos with seated exercises which can help as a start - they’re not all sedate ones for older people.

Then there area GP referral schemes - these tend to be time limited and at specific venues that they are contracted with.

What exactly do you need your carer to support with? Because in some circumstances qualified PT is probably going to be of more help in terms of how the equipment needs to be used.

Have you checked if they do a concession card? The gym in my area  (no longer council because it’s been contracted out ) let’s people with disabilities in free and then the carer pays. Which is effectively half price each so a reasonable saving. 
Maybe on to take up with your local councillor as a starting point. 


ETA - do you meet any of the criteria for personal health budget?

What is a personal health budget? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)