Hi, my name is Hubelly! Council wont install a ramp for my mother, any advice?

Hubelly

I live in Sussex whilst my elderly mother lives in Ayrshire, my brother helps out as she uses a walker to get around with the help of my brother who lives nearby.

She has been in her council house for over 30 years and is now housebound due to a fall/broken hip she has steps at her front door that she cannot manage unaided so a lot falls on my brothers shoulders.She is 85 and has onset dementia so even though she was offered a move to a property with a ramp she is refusing to move as she's terrified as you can imagine losing all that is familiar to her😒 I have asked the council if they will install a ramp and they are refusing by saying "if she's not in a wheelchair we dont have to do it" to say im frustrated would be an understatement as wheelchair or not she cannot manage the stairs without support so I feel she's being discriminated against.

Any ideas? Thanks all

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Hubelly, welcome to the community. Sorry to hear the council won't provide for your mother, that sounds really frustrating for you all. I'm afraid this isn't my area of expertise but I hope our members might have been through something similar and can say what worked for them.

One thing you could try would be to speak to Citizens Advice or a local Housing Adviser to see if they can point you in the right direction, or at least advise you on what your rights are. Advice Local have a directory that might be useful to you: https://advicelocal.uk/

Has your mother been assessed at home? Sometimes that can give them an extra nudge. The NHS has a page with some resources, so I'll leave that below in case you haven't already read through it:

Home adaptations - Social care and support guide - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Luchia

Unfortunately it wouldn’t be classed as discrimination as the council have strict guidelines they must follow and it is indeed correct that they will only install a ramp for a Wheelchair User, They have also offered alternative housing(Basically covers their backs)

You could request a medical needs assessment from your local occupational therapist, They will come out and see what adjustments they think are needed to help your mother with the stairs etc which might help