Hi,
Virtually all my journeys now, are to my daughter's house ... about three miles each way, plus a visit to the local newsagent on Saturday to buy a paper, and invest in LOTTO. Taxis, at £5 each way, would be the sensible financial solution.
Barbara's Boss Carer has admitted that Barbara is going to spend the rest of her life in bed. The LA provided a clinical "engine hoist".(£1,000?) The LA carers tried to use it once, without much success. I suspect the small wheels were digging into the carpet, requiring a sharp jerk to get it moving. Barbara is reluctant to try again, so the hoist sits in the living room. I think the solution is to replace the bedroom carpet (laid in 1984 when the house was built?) with laminate boards, to match every other "used" room in the bungalow.
Social Services provided a "hospital bed" (£800+?) prior to Barbara leaving hospital. That meant splitting our fairly new Adjustamatic 5ft double into two, leaving ME with a 30" single, which would be suitable for child. Barbara demanded that we buy me a 1000mm Hospital Pattern bed ... height adjustable at head and foot, at £800+ ... not as posh as hers, but acceptable.
We had already spent £1000 of our own money, having the living room door into the hall converted to double doors, giving straight access from the living room into the bathroom. Academic now, as she can't get out of bed.
I too seem to be getting full Invalid Care Allowance. To start with, I was only getting ICA for day care. The Care Team Boss said I should be getting the full amount, as they were visiting us both, four times a day. I assume she took it upon herself to get things adjusted
Our builder has demanded that I don't do any more physical work in the garden ... I could only do it slowly anyway. The thought of me filling a 2-yard skip, in two weeks, by myself, was rather daunting.
I'll send the collection box round later.
602