Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[CLKD]

 

[CLKD]

Picking brains time!  Mum has had carers in to help her bath twice a week: in case she slips .  But the arrangement doesn't seem to be working  so my question is: has anyone's elderly family member decided to get rid of the bath for a shower enclosure or walk-in bath?

[getting_old]

My mother swapped her bath for a shower. She got one which had a seat so she could sit if she needed, but the seat folded up if not required. She found it much easier than getting in / out of the bath.

[CLKD]

  are you able to remember the Company or was it fitted locally to your Mum?  I have sent for the AgeUK Brochure as a start, bet mine will throw up her hands in horror 

[babyjane]

can the social services help?  They can often get involved if and when adaptations need to be made to keep an elderly person in their own home. They helped our elderly neighbour a lot and she never had to leave her home.

[SadLynda]

Mine did this a few years back as neither of them could get in the bath.  Cant help though as we had work done locally, but it was brought up during the Age UK visit, so not sure if they will actually do work, issue a grant or what? depends on your Mums circs.

[getting_old]

My mum's shower was installed by a local plumber. It was around 10 years ago, and he had a brochure of options for people with mobility issues. She did consider the seat to lower her into the bath but decided the shower would be easier in the long term. She was the one who suggested it, and also the one who found the plumber and arranged the installation.

[CLKD]

 

[SadLynda]

2nd visit from Age UK today, this time the financial lady.  She sent off for two packs of Attendance Allowance forms as she is pretty sure they both qualify, which will then give them the right pension credits so they can afford glasses and dental visits again.  I feel sad it has taken me this long to persuade them to do this as they are both now in such poor health.  Mum already has a blue badge and the lady is fetching a form for my Dad when she returns to help them fill in the forms, as she is quite sure he is entitled to one too.
Good news is my friend has now convinced her parents to do it too, so at least another lot of deserving elderly will get some help too.

[CLKD]

Surely opticians and dental care are free  .  I haven't paid for either since I was 60.

One can put ideas to them but can't force issues onto their daily lives.  It is better from a stranger but how to get the stinger into the house initially!

As an aside - my Mum, who keeps the door locked during the day (now) and puts a chain on at night, apparently bought off a door-to-door 'sad story' ex-con ………. a set of hankies, like she needs them as she uses tissues  this is a woman who won't have 'just anyone' over her doorstep 

[CLKD]

Mum didn't seem at all worried that he was probably a 'con' - she fell for the sob story, but other times we have to wait until she answers the locked door  even when she is expecting us to call.

[babyjane]

We have not had any of these cold callers since we put a polite 'no callers thank you' notice on out front window and another on our door.

[CLKD]

We haven't recently ……. for a while a white van would dump lots of 'ex prisoners' in the village for about 3 hours then pick them all up again.  The Police put a stop to it all.

A year after Dad died Mum picked up some guys and a few gals from Romania (I think).  She heard them talking about football when she was riding on a bus and got talking to them.  Somehow they got invited to her house whereas we weren't made welcome ……. about 10/12 kept turning up, she would make tea/coffee and discuss all types of family issues.  We happened over there 1 afternoon when they were at her house, they then realised that she wasn't alone.  They wanted money to help with their fares home but didn't seem bothered when she said that she was saving her money for the grandchildren  .

[SadLynda]

Thats right Stellajane, they get the eye tests but not the spex or dentals.  I could never understand why they were on the lower rate as they have struggled for years, now I get it - I think my Mum told them off a windfall she had many years ago, its long since gone now, we all got new white goods and other luxuries, I think she has saved some for funeral costs but that is all.  Only way I got them to agree to Age UK after all this time was because the boiler is on the blink and they need a new one, or they would have carried on struggling.

Mine never get conned on doorstep as they rarely bother to answer the door, infact I dont think they actually hear it most of the time.  My daughter and I have keys.

[CLKD]

Mum has a key box by the back door.  But there's no way of checking who has the entry number