I'm having a horrible few days- pain even worse than usual; sick; exhausted. Weird pins and needles in arms. Hmph.
But, my new stairlift was fitted today, so my wife doesn't need to carry me up the stairs any more ( shame ) it made me wonder if everyone knows that in the UK you can request for adaptations to be made to your house, even if you own your own house (or have a mortgage). They changed taps for me , put grab rails in etc and are going to put a wet room in my ensuite bathroom. They also put in the stairlift. All for free or for a contribution, depending on your income. They just assess your needs. It's the local council's 'Gateway to Care' or OTs. It's meant we can stay in this house. Just a thought in case others don't know- sorry if you all do! I don't know if this service is available in other countries- sorry.
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LizzieR
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Great post!!!
Red Cross in Canada will provide people with items they need. Wheel chairs, grab bars, stair lifts, bath seats, canes etc. These services can be set up by the social workers in our hospitals. These items are loaned out to you for as long as you need them. Free of charge, but this service is run by donation, so whatever you can give please give.
I used a lot of these items for my father. It's been 2 years since his death, but I still donate a little money to the Red Cross today.
Hi Suzannedale, I will check with the Red Cross as I am struggling to find where I can purchase a bath chair. My bath is very narrow at the bottom part and only 13 inches. I rent my flat so I am unable to have anything attached to the wall or the bath tub.
I didn't think about the Red Cross, I will check with them to see if they can help.
Thank you for the info here in Canada. My sister didn't get any help in the UK. She is badly disabled they even took the spare prosthetic leg which she took in to be repaired after she had a fall which would be much cheaper to repair than making a new one.
Angel delight. I don't know the renal laws of Ontario, but I find it hard to believe that they wouldn't allow grab rails. Please phone your rentals board and ask or better yet phone your local disability or health board. People with disabilities are allowed disability aids here in BC and I'm sure in other provences. Don't allow your landlord to 'tell you the law" . The Red Cross might be able to inform you too.....but please keep me informed on the rules of Ontario & disability aids.
Hi, it is a private house that I live in the basement due to it not having many stairs and only 5 mins from my son and family.
I will check out what you advised as it is my family doctor who recommended I get a bath stool /chair so I can have a shower. She also printed off the form and completed it which I took to Services Ontario so I can park in disabled as a passenger
excuse me....I just had an evil laugh.... Just because you rent a basement suite in a private house does not mean the landlords don't have to follow the rental rules. There are lots of private homes that rent out their basement suites without having registered this with the city.
So if you are in an illegal suite, the landlord still has to follow the rental rules. They may try to kick you out, but all you have to do is go to your local rental board. You will get a "stay" and your landlord will be fined for not registrating the suite. You have rights that are governed by your province in Canada.
But I understand who wants to argue or fight? The best adice I can give you is look up your city's rental & disability laws.
Your right I don't want to fight but he has 5 other houses that he rents out and he does make sure he checks everything such ad smoke alarms etc. Plus he is a good friend of my son and daughter in law. He is very nice I just felt I couldn't drill into the bathroom tiles
I do have a grab rail with suction cups and a step to help me get in and out of the bathtib which works really well. I am hoping that I can start on my new infusions soon and if all goes well I can do the injections myself. The new infusions are Orencia and checking on here it has good feedback.
Hi, I think it also has to do with where you live in the UK. My sister is in her 80's and she had to pay for her stairlift and a bath. She has had two amputations 1 in her foot the other in the middle of her ankle over the years even though she is diabetic that was not the cause she was born disabled due to spinabifida.
She was told it depended on available funding not her income.
On the bath thing- I was given a kind of blow up cushion that was !meant to help me get in - then deflates to take you in the water. It didn't work on mine, but might on a narrow bath.
the bath chairs at the Red Cross are a plastic seat with a plastic backrest sitting on short metal legs and on these metal legs are rubber ends. These rubber ends prevent the seat from slidding. Very safe to use...
We brought our Acorns stairlift 8yrs ago and it has paid for itself times over and when it has failed the company came out asap and fixed it straight away. It was really great when i broke my ankle two years ago and shortly after i have my back surgery it will be a lifeline.xxxxxxx
Well, I'm downstairs eating breakfast and it's only quarter to ten! The stairs have been conquered! Though one of our dogs is scared of it and backs away, ears flat... x
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) it made me wonder if everyone knows that in the UK you can request for adaptations to be made to your house, even if you own your own house (or have a mortgage). They changed taps for me , put grab rails in etc and are going to put a wet room in my ensuite bathroom. They also put in the stairlift. All for free or for a contribution, depending on your income. They just assess your needs. It's the local council's 'Gateway to Care' or OTs. It's meant we can stay in this house. Just a thought in case others don't know- sorry if you all do! I don't know if this service is available in other countries- sorry. 
x 
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