General Chat

Mine is booked for next week. Has anyone had a home visit and how approachable did you find them?

My main problem is not being able to get into bath to have a shower (which is over the bath). We don't have room in the bathroom for a walk in one.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Sue x

My sister's main problem was exactly the same as yours, not being able to step into the bath to have a shower or a bath.

They put another hand rail up the stairs (now has two) to assist her with walking up/down, they raised her bed by putting four inch blocks under the casters, they fixed a toilet pan height extention.

All these adjustments have made a big difference, however , they promised to organise with the council (she is a tenant) the removal of the bath so that a walk in shower could be put there. That was two years ago!....she is still waiting.

I didn't have a home visit, I had to go to the hospital to see mine, and didn't need a home visit, but my mum did, and they got in touch with the council straight away to have her bath removed and the bathroom turned into a wet room. This got done in a matter of weeks.

They are there to help you, so ask ask ask ask. They are very approachable in my experience.

I have the bed and chair raisers too as well as the toilet raiser and support surround :-)) We wrote to them and said that OH and one builder could do the work to make the bathroom larger but we would need financial help with the cost of materials!

Your two years comment hasn't cheered me up at all. We have tried to sell the house but absolutely no luck. We are on three floors and I need a bungalow to be honest.

Thanks TW you appreciate how much this problem is affecting my independence!

Sue

My sister is an OT assistant for Gloustershire SS.Her job is to see what aids etc are needed in peoples homes to make life easier .I don't know where you live but my sister is great.
I hope they can sort out things for you

havent got no advice hun just wanted to say hope you get it sorted soon hun
xxxx
i mean ya gona start to smell real bad soon hehehe

We have waited eighteen months for a wet room.I have a plan of it and have had several visits from surveyors and people regarding the funding but it all seems to be on hold again.

We did have a hoist fitted very quickly and the wheelchair was organized well too.

We are in West Wales.

Stray OH helped me shower this morning so I don't smell today..lol

I am quite nervous really and that's not like me at all. Silly as it's something I need help with but I loathe going 'cap in hand' for something.

Sue x

Look upon it as assistance to help you AVOID going cap in hand Sue. You have a right to help and good advice, take it and use it.

It'll be fine. I know what you mean though, just feels like a bit of an intrusion, but make them a cuppa, sit down and tell them everything you have difficulty with, and let them tell you what they can do for you.

Silly woman! Where do you think all your contributions went all these years? It has gone to those who needed it,now somebody elses contributions are going to you. Which part of it do you feel you don't deserve?

OH will be here to help explain the problems. I wonder if I can get a robot to dry my lower legs and feet?...lol

Sue x

FGS woman,

Ya need somewhere to shower with ease so ya don't ming, not somewhere to hang yer bleedin hat !!!

An anyway wots yer hat got to do with it.


*** wanders orf muttering " never seen the auld bat wear a hat"

Don't forget to ask about havin yer legs shaved/waxed cos them is far worse than Dafts Tash anyday


MWAH


Claire xxx

Pheeeewwwww

Moo didn't mention the other sort of 'cap'...lol

Trust you to drop in and say I am minging.

I am growing the leg hair to keep me warm instead of switching the heating on!

Can't face food today cos we finished the doughnuts off last night!...thank you :-))


Sue xx

DUTCH DUTCH DUTCH DUTCH DUTCH

Just in case you are disappointed


MWAH


Claire xxxxx

yep...lol

xx

pmsl you lot are mad!!

Sue, what about having one of those bath lifts installed then you could keep the bath but as you are lifted into the bath, empty of course, could you then stand up to shower? Or have a bath seat and sit down to shower, if your shower is one of the type that comes off the hook at the top so you can aim the spray whereever you need it? i think the lifts kind of swing round? My late cousin had one and that's what hers did, moved her into the bath after she sat on some contraption and activated it to move her up and into the bath.
Haven't a clue where she got it or how?

Good luck, don't forget to write a list of everything so you don't go off track and forget something.

Lizx

Hi Sue, we have had the occupational therapist visit our home recently for my husband. Same problem as you, shower over the bath & upstairs. They have put us another handrail up the stairs & a grab rail on the tiles over the bath, plus other grab rails around doors etc. Also supplied a bath board which is an adjustable slatted seat that fits over the bath so he can sit on it. It has made all the difference for us as he could'nt get in the bath before this was done. O.C. was very nice & the bits and bobs were supplied very quickly. Like you never had to ask for help before but don't feel guilty as we needed help. That is what they are there for. They will assess all round the house. Good luck.
Hilary. x

Hi Sue

Why not give Freecycle a try? You never know what people might come up with.

I advertised on my local one to see if I could get one of those overbath disability seats for my dad to be able to sit in the overbath shower. The lady who gave me it offered me all sorts of other disability aid stuff. Unfortunately my dad didn't want the other stuff.

It's worth a try surely?

Dianne xx

Sue, the O T will be able to see what you need, but nudge her into the bathroom for a start, and DONT make her/him a cuppa, you'll probably spill most of it!! lol.
xxxxx

I think what you get and how long you wait depends on your financial circumstances and where you live.

Years ago I lived in a council bungalow and the OT sorted out a bath board for top of bath, and a seat for the bottom of the bath - that way I could get in and out of the bath in stages. But I didnt have a shower. The council were quite quick to take the bath out and install a walk-in shower.

I now privately rent a place and live on DLA/benifits and had to apply for a council grant to get the work done - it took nearly 18 months to get to the top of the list. In the meantime I was given a board seat for the top of the bath - that way I could sit on it and swing my legs over the edge of the bath, then stand up for the shower. Eventually I had a beautiful wet room installed.

While waiting for the OT to visit it might be worth making a note of all the things you have difficulty doing around the house.