I've Been Assessed !

Today (Tuesday) I had two lovely visitor's they were from our borough council, I asked the council  for help last week as my mobility has gone down hill a lot since moving to Taunton.

So they came up the stairs introducing themselves and asked me loads of questions, about my medical problems, what I wanted them to help me with etc..
They looked in the bathroom and could immediately see what the problems were (a low toilet and deep bath) and told me that yep they could help me definitely in that room.
We then went into the bedroom where I explained about  Lucy because of all the makeup and accessories inc wigs on a stand that were on the side table and on top of a bookshelf,( they thought it great and said I must be having loads of fun doing girly things). I could get assistance here as well with a rail put on the bed so I could get support when getting out of bed.Then came the biggy, the stairs they would have to get permission from the landlord to help me with this problem, they thought another stair rail could be put up But as I said to them this was a bit of a Grey area because our house is privately rented and permission would have to be sought as it meant something being put up and made permanent. So I left it in their hands and would see what happens. Everything was fine downstairs and I needed no help there.

So I was then given a support care plan. This is how the care team are going to support me, here are the basics: I'm going to get aids for the bath and toilet, chair raisers and bed rail and hopefully a second stair rail. I'm going to get a visit from a social services care team, in regards to benefits I could claim including a new wheelchair, they even said maybe a electric one ( but that is very doubtful and I'm not counting on that at all). though I was warned I might have to wait three to four months for a visit as there is a waiting list But once I get on the list then the sooner they can sort me out the better.
. I'm going to get the next visit from the support team on the 1st October after my holiday  because by then again hopefully all the aids I need and been assessed for will have arrived and they can give me more advice and what to do next.
I feel a lot happier now and as I was told by my volunteer group you never know what help you can get unless you ask for it.
So if you are reading this and need help with mobility, benefits or just someone to talk to never be afraid to ask for help you might be surprised what help is out there.

Amanda. xxx

I'm Getting Some Help!!!

Hi,
I was busy yesterday (Monday). Things have become slightly worse with my mobility, I'm having trouble getting off the loo and really struggle with the bath, so I thought enough is enough, I've got to get some help to manage these problems. Also my wheelchair isn't very good and could break any minute . So the first thing I did was contact my charity co ordinator of my voluntary work by email, to see if  she could give me some idea's to who I could contact about my problems.

She emailed me back saying that the local Council offices would be the first ones to contact so I did. I phoned them up and spoke to lovely lady who took my medical details and asked what exactly I was finding hard to do. She was sympathetic to my problems and said the best thing to do was that they could send  someone to assess me to see exactly what was needed and what help I could get from them, the only problem was that there was a big waiting list and I probably wouldn't be seen for a month. After finishing talking to her she also put me through to another department to see if I could get a blue disabled badge, they weren't sure if I could get one because I haven't claimed or get Disability Living Allowance but another lovely lady said it wouldn't hurt to try and I might get it. The claim would have to go to an independent occupational therapist who would look at my  medical problems, then they decide whether the council should allow me to have the badge or not.

I got a shock this morning (Tuesday) I  had a phone call this morning it was from the council, they wanted to come and see me next Tuesday to assess and give me all the help I need, I was put down as urgent so someone must've taken pity on me. The people that are coming to see me next Tuesday are nothing to do with the disabled blue badge that I have applied for. This visit is to help me get independent at home.

So we shall see what happens next week and of course I will tell all what happens on here.

Take care and I'll chat soon.

A Day Out !

Yesterday (Saturday) was a lovely day, Lucy and I had decided to have a day out in Weston Super Mare.

When we started off in the morning it was foggy and the rain started to drizzle, it was also foggy on the motorway and some drivers didn't have there lights on,  so it was a very careful journey to Weston.
We parked up in the sovereign shopping centre multistory car park and when Lucy was closing the car boot door she after getting me in the wheelchair she accidentally banged my head with the boot door. I was good to say the least after this happened, I just yowled and held my head instead of screaming the place down as usual!!!!. My head must be getting used to being bashed as it happened before in a Morrisons carpark a few months ago and then I did howl and scream and let Lucy know what she had accidentally done.

Once we got out of the carpark we went into a cafe to have a coffee, hot chocolate and also (which I think I deserved) a cake. We then wandered round Weston, money was tight due to saving up for our holiday which is two weeks away.
We had fish and chips on the pier for lunch and then we decided to make our way home.

I had a voluntary shift that night so I just chilled out and relaxed after I had dinner.

Enjoying the sun at Weston.

On the pier at Weston

Making a new friend.

Hydrotherapy And A Meeting With Age UK,.

This week seems to have gone so quickly, on Monday I had my training for my voluntary work, I'm
 really enjoying it and it has opened my eyes to a lot of things.

Hydrotherapy. 

 

I also had my first treatment of hydrotherapy on wednesday, this was a new experience and I was hopeful it was going to help me. I'd already changed into my swimming costume at home to save time, so after my name was called by a really friendly nursing assistant, I was led to the hydrotherapy pool. I was asked to give  my crutches to the assistant and was given a walking frame instead. It was for safety reasons, I was then asked to go up a ramp and then down into the pool to meet my new physiotherapist who was going to help me with this miracle cure.

She examined my knee in the water and then I was told, "Hhhhmmm this therapy might work for you! I would like you to try this treatment for four weeks, BUT  if you feel that it isn't working then I advise you to go back to your GP". To say I was gutted to hear this news is an understatement but me being an optimist I thought to myself  I'm going to give it a chance!. So I was given some exercises to do with flippers on and by the end of the half hour I was given, I was in pain. I staggered out of the pool and got changed I was met by the assistant who told me that I was to take it easy for the next couple of days as I would be sore and was given a new appointment for next Thursday 13 September.

I was delayed getting out of the hospital, as the air ambulance was taking off and was told to stay inside the hospital door by a porter, who told me, " that because of the updraught that is caused by the helicopter taking off, they have to stop the traffic coming into the hospital, this includes ambulances". He then had to close the automatic doors and the helicopter took off with no difficulties and after a cheerful goodbye from the porter I was allowed out and went to meet dad who was picking me up. I had my lunch and then got ready for an important meeting from another voluntary organisation, that I was going to get involved in.

 

Age UK.

 

This was a meeting that I knew would be fun, the manager sounded lovely on the phone and really wanted to meet me, she said she would be bringing someone else as she was training up a new manager and that her companion would be looking after me when she had left the association.
They arrived and the first thing both of them did was give me a hug, this surprised me and I was a little taken back and both of them started to giggle and said "welcome to age UK "!. They then sat down and the trainee manager did the talking, she told me what the work would be,( I explained what I would be doing in my last blog). I said that I knew what it would entitle and I was looking forward to starting with them and she said that age UK were really looking forward to me starting with them as well.

So it was decided that I start to volunteer with them in October after my holiday because by then my ID card would be ready, she said that taxi fares would be met by age uk, so I shouldn't worry about anything concerning travel. They then gave me another hug and said goodbye and I would hear from them soon.

That's all my news for this week Lucy and I are going out for the day tomorrow (Saturday) and it's not in town, so I'll update my blog to let you know where and what happened on Sunday. As for today (Friday) to say that I am sore is not the word I can hardly walk but if it does me some good then it must be worth it, shouldn't it ???????
Take care
Mandy.
xxxxxx