h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Today we had to phone up the council and ask them to come and take Mk2s "community alarm" away, as we got a letter saying today that the price for having it has risen from £31 a year to £1.50 a week! That is £78 a Year!!!!

So if anything happens to either of us now, I just hope that the other can reach the phone to call 999?

Mind you, everything for helping disabled folk is expensive, I saw a pair of the "grippers" (to pick tings up from the floor without bending down)in a community health magazine for £14.99.

I bought a pair from out local DIY market shop, for £1.99 does exactly the same job.

Also, a walking frame with wheels, magazine price £99.99, exactly the same thing in ALDI recently....£39.99?
Ever had the feeling that you are being had??

(any supermarket will give you £20 if you find and return a shopping trolley, that is what their value is to them, despite all the work that goes into making them)
Yet, a wheeled walking frame, costs £99.99

Smudger

I have to say ALDI is superb for bargains and food. I have never heard of the shopping trolley reward down here. Most supermarkets charge a £1 but some still go missing.

It really does pay to look around before buying anything these days, as you can be fleeced left right and centre.

That community alarm sounds mighty expensive. Is there no alternative?

Regards to Mark ll

Websailor

Captain Black, when we were trying to get help for my Alzheimers diagnosed Mother, the whole system seemed chaotic and confusing to us so I'm not surprised you're finding it frustrating.

I've not been following this thread so I don't know your dad's situation, but I assume you've been through the social care assessment stages where occupational therapists and social workers help to assess the affected person's abilities and needs and come up with a care plan. If not, that needs to happen. Payment for just about everything is means tested and if your dad's savings are above the threshhold, then he'll be expected to pay for the care. That's the position we were in.

There's loads of useful advice on the Alzheimers Society website, as already suggested, so have a good root around their advice leaflets.
I've not tried ringing their advice line but I'm sure they'll be able to offer practical advice for your dad's situation. It really helps if you know your rights before you talk to the various authorities, then nag and nag till you get what you need from them.

MC

Hi WS, thanks for your post, no there is no alternative, so if Mk2 does fall or anything like that, I will have to phone her son, (he lives in the same village)to come round, as I could not lift her?

Mind you we have had some emergency nebulising to do in the early hours, when she wakes up straggling to breathe.

I can cope with that as I know exactly how to set the nebuliser up and how much dose she needs, (being ex ambulance service, came in handy)

Mind you, if I fall...its game over, as I wouldn't be able to get back up straight away, as I have to crawl to the settee or a heavy chair, to pull myself up?

Smudger.

Smudger, I think you would be surprised at the strength you could summon if you had to. Having said that I hope you never need to do it.

Websailor

Ah! I am afraid my mobility is getting worse these days, a walk to the corner shop and back is my limit now?

But I still get the odd good day

Smudger.

Very difficult one this...it worries me when P is away; if i had "bad leg day" and fell, i don't have a mobile phone.

Do they still make "pagers", like medical staff use?
Have you a social worker you could talk to about this?

zdt

Just found out someone I know has been diagnosed with a rather nasty form of inoperable bone cancer.

Any tips on how to support them through this, 'cos my feeling is it's going to be rough.

Make sure they are are *certain* to get the pain relief neccesary. It's supposedly the worst pain you can experience when it's advanced.

Quote "Do they still make "pagers", like medical staff use?
Have you a social worker you could talk to about this?"

Yea! I think they do, but you have to sign a contract to get one, its the same deal as with a mobile phone.

They are good, as we used them when we were on call out in the ambulance service, but to be honest, I think you are better off with using a mobile phone.

We have our mobiles through ASDA and we only pay 8p a minute to all networks as well as land lines!

Also, you are not forced into any £10 a month deals, we can make a £10 last us for ages, as its only when I am out shopping and so on, that we use them.
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Clive, sorry to read about your friends illness, the best thing is to be honest with them, and if they want to talk about it, or not, just respect their wishes.
Sometimes bringing it out and talk about it, can be the best thing, I hope things work out for you.

Smudger.