Housing & Support for Adult with Learning Difficulties

[Dollyholiday]

Hello!

I am new to the site and hoping that someone may be able to advise me.

My son has learning difficulties and presently lives alone in a private bungalow with a lot of help from me and a little help from a PA. As I am getting older I would like to ensure his long term living arrangements are secure. I think that his support needs could only be met with day by day help, although not needed full time. He is practically quite able as in he can cook, wash & iron etc but needs a lot of help with organisational aspects of life. So, ideally, I would like to arrange for him to live in a house with perhaps 2 or 3 other people with similar needs and a carer to carry out the organisational side of life.

I have heard it is possible for adults with learning disabilities to get a mortgage, and if anyone has done this with their family member I would be interested to know of your experience. Anyone who has had gone through the process of finding long term housing and support for their son/daughter in a similar situation to myself, I would love to hear from you.

Here's hoping!!

Dollyholiday

[Sarah_Mencap]

Hello Dollyholiday

It is great that you are planning ahead.

There are a couple of other conversations on here that I thought you might find helpful:

> healthunlocked.com/mencap/p...

> healthunlocked.com/mencap/p....

I know the circumstances in these posts are a bit different, but I thought that they might include some ideas that are helpful for you.

Best wishes

Sarah

[Dollyholiday in reply to Sarah_Mencap]

Thanks Sarah for pointing these posts out, I'll follow them up. I hope to get some other replies as I'm sure other parents may have done the same as I'm wanting to do.

[DDay01]

advanceuk.org/news/campaign...

Try this link advance help people with learning disabilities. I heard about them through a group called ‘in control’ who ran a workshop in our area. Hope that helps

[1994EJED]

Hello DollyHoliday

Well done for planning ahead. It can be a daunting task but far better to do it while you can have control of it, then to wait until a crisis. Involve your son as much as he can be, as it's his choice and he should also feel in control.

My son, 25, moved to supported living four years ago. There's probably another conversation of mine on here to do with that! We were not happy with the poor care he received in the first house, and luckily were able to get together with two other parents, and find a shared house for all of them (luckily they all got along from day one!). I guess the first step is to get a social worker, who will discuss your child in their planning meetings. The process can be very slow but once the wheels are in motion, it will eventually happen. Make sure you're happy with the place you're offered, try and get to know other parents and ask about the quality of care they receive.

It was a good move, and our son has developed and blossomed, thanks to the fabulous care agency we have. If you're in the same area as us (Suffolk) I can recommend them and tell you who they are! Hope it all goes well.

[Dollyholiday in reply to 1994EJED]

Hello 1994EJED

Thanks for your reply. I’m pleased you’ve got your son settled, it will be a weight off your mind. The trouble is that my son lives in his own house and has done for some years but I have to help a lot. He’s happy there and doesn’t want to move. But I won’t live forever!

Did you find the house your son now lives in and how was it bought? I’m not in the position of being able to buy my son a house but I have heard that people with a learning difficulty can get a mortgage. Is this something you did? Also I don’t know of any other parents wanting to do this for their son/daughter so would be interested to know how you came across other parents.

Unfortunately I’m nowhere near Suffolk but any advice will be welcome!

Thank you

[1994EJED in reply to Dollyholiday]

Sorry, Dollyholiday, I misread your post. So the house your son is in now, can he stay there if he has support? If that's the case, he needs a social worker to draw up a care plan and financial assessment and organise some care to cover/replace what you do. Would he be happy with that, do you think? It might feel strange at first, for both of you, but once it settles down, it actually gives you both more quality time together, rather than always having to do things.

[Dollyholiday in reply to 1994EJED]

Hi again, yes my son could stay in his house long term so no problem there. The problem is that he needs day to day help with organisation and I doubt that would be possible unless he lives in a house with 1 or 2 others and a carer. A social worker has done a care plan and he has funding for care in his house. But, without a deep understanding of his day to day life, I can’t see how it would work if I wasn’t involved. This is why I am thinking of trying to house him with a couple of other people and a full time carer. Have you done something similar for your son?