New to asking for help, what can help / what do I need?

lrobinson

Hi,
I have muddled through with long term health conditions for a long time and have finally got enough courage to ask for help. At the moment my partner and my family have had to do a lot of the housework / cooking / shopping for me so that I can just about manage to look after myself. 

How do I work out if there are any aids that can help me? Do I decide which things are the hardest and go from there or do I use aids for things that are not so hard so that I have more energy to do other things?

At the moment the hardest things for me are standing for prolonged periods, walking, preparing food, showering (due to standing), lifting and putting away shopping, cleaning the house / doing gardening.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
Lucy

rebel11

lrobinson said:

Hi,
I have muddled through with long term health conditions for a long time and have finally got enough courage to ask for help. At the moment my partner and my family have had to do a lot of the housework / cooking / shopping for me so that I can just about manage to look after myself. 

How do I work out if there are any aids that can help me? Do I decide which things are the hardest and go from there or do I use aids for things that are not so hard so that I have more energy to do other things?

At the moment the hardest things for me are standing for prolonged periods, walking, preparing food, showering (due to standing), lifting and putting away shopping, cleaning the house / doing gardening.

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
Lucy

I would go with what will make your life easier (don't think of it as hardest / easiest), no doubt because of health conditions things might get more difficult, but if you make the aids adjustment now, then when they become or ought to become difficult, they won't, does that make sense. O.K. think of it another way, breaking in 'new shoes'. 

janer1967

Hi 

I would suggest you refer yourself for a care needs assessment through the gov website 

A ot will cone and assess your needs and make recommendations for any aids or adaptions to make your life easier and then often get the aids supplied 

It won't cover things like shopping and gardening but will cover bathing food prep mobility etc 

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @lrobinson

Welcome to the community  

I'm so happy to hear that you got that courage to ask for help. I think a lot of people don't realise how difficult that can be  

I agree with Janer's comment, to refer yourself for a care needs assessment.