Hyndburn Homes - shower install - Page 3

Royboy39 · 19-05-2008, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

Im going back a few years but when we had the conversion done they took the bath out and put a shower in. They also put a pull down seat in. They also brought handles to go up everywhere, a kettle holder - to make it easier to tip because mum couldnt lift it, a seat raiser, another bannister for the stairs and toilet raisers.

I think that says if a system works don't crab it.

shillelagh · 19-05-2008, 21:19

My mum said to the social worker in the hospital that it was nice to have a bath that it was so long since she'd had one because i couldnt lift her in and out and also she didnt want me bathing her. That was why i had the visit off the occupational therapist while she was still in hospital and a week later they were there doing the alterations ready for when she came home.

MargaretR · 19-05-2008, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

Im going back a few years but when we had the conversion done they took the bath out and put a shower in. They also put a pull down seat in. They also brought handles to go up everywhere, a kettle holder - to make it easier to tip because mum couldnt lift it, a seat raiser, another bannister for the stairs and toilet raisers.

She asked me about my need for those things, but I am not that needy.
It was a very comprehensive interview - had to prove I could perform basic functions. I have already solved the 'tip the kettle' problem by buying a Tefal Onecup machine that dispenses instant very hot water.

Royboy39 · 19-05-2008, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

My mum said to the social worker in the hospital that it was nice to have a bath that it was so long since she'd had one because i couldnt lift her in and out and also she didnt want me bathing her. That was why i had the visit off the occupational therapist while she was still in hospital and a week later they were there doing the alterations ready for when she came home.

The system is not all bad....credit where it's due.

MargaretR · 21-05-2008, 10:05

I have just had a call back from the occupational therapist.

She has discussed my problem with her boss and they have decided to recommend that the bath be removed and a shower installed urgently.

The decision has had to take into account my narcolepsy
(tendency to nod off frequently) -
they don't want me to risk drowning by falling asleep in the bath.

So now I wait for Hyndburn Homes response.
I wonder how urgent they think the shower install is?
After all, I have been risking death by drowning for a year now

jaysay · 21-05-2008, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

I have just had a call back from the occupational therapist.

She has discussed my problem with her boss and they have decided to recommend that the bath be removed and a shower installed urgently.

The decision has had to take into account my narcolepsy
(tendency to nod off frequently) -
they don't want me to risk drowning by falling asleep in the bath.

So now I wait for Hyndburn Homes response.
I wonder how urgent they think the shower install is?
After all, I have been risking death by drowning for a year now

I should rattle their cage Margaret about once a week at first then every day until they get their finger out

MargaretR · 27-06-2008, 09:39

UPDATE -
I have just had a long phone conversation with the lady who calculates Disabled Facilities Grants at Hyndburn Council.

I have told her that I didn't expect to qualify because I have more income than most pensioners, and have to pay 'full whack' rent, rates etc.
We went ahead with the 'means test' over the phone anyway.

What surprised me was the cost of installation that they use in their calculation - £4000!!!!, and by her reckoning I can afford to pay £3500 of it. So I consented for her to consider my application closed.

So now it is up to Hyndburn Homes to decide whether they will fund the additional cost above that of the normal bathroom suite replacement.

I offered a while back to purchase an electric shower and asked if it could be installed when the refurb is done - but they never replied.

It seems ever more likely that I will wait until after the refurb and have an electric shower put in solely at my own expense.

No way will I consider paying out £3500 to improve property I dont own.

jaysay · 27-06-2008, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

UPDATE -
I have just had a long phone conversation with the lady who calculates Disabled Facilities Grants at Hyndburn Council.

I have told her that I didn't expect to qualify because I have more income than most pensioners, and have to pay 'full whack' rent, rates etc.
We went ahead with the 'means test' over the phone anyway.

What surprised me was the cost of installation that they use in their calculation - £4000!!!!, and by her reckoning I can afford to pay £3500 of it. So I consented for her to consider my application closed.

So now it is up to Hyndburn Homes to decide whether they will fund the additional cost above that of the normal bathroom suite replacement.

I offered a while back to purchase an electric shower and asked if it could be installed when the refurb is done - but they never replied.

It seems ever more likely that I will wait until after the refurb and have an electric shower put in solely at my own expense.

No way will I consider paying out £3500 to improve property I dont own.

£4000 Margaret to have a shower fixed, Well I know I've been out of the trade for a while, but hell that seems like an extortionate amount to me. Would be interested to see what some one like Derek thinks about that.

Neil · 27-06-2008, 10:52

That just shows how much or our monet the Council waste. £4000 for a shower fitted. Maybe its time they stopped using the contractors that charge £4000 and find some that will do it for a fraction of that and to the same standard.

MargaretR · 27-06-2008, 10:58

I suppose £4000 is for a wet room which involves installing a wetproof membrane in the floor - even with that, it does seem excessive

harwood red · 27-06-2008, 12:31

adaptions do cost a fortune, but very little of it comes out of council budget in Blackburn and Darwen (can't speak for Hyndburn). The DFG comes out of a central borough pot which is made up of contributions from various housing associations and NHS. Twin Valley at the last look put in £250k.

The way many of the adaptations have to be done is so particular, in a lot of cases this is why the costs are so high... but I still think many are too high!

derekgas · 27-06-2008, 13:46

A wet room is a little more involved than people think, can involve strengthening floor and/or removal of some of the floor joists, it's a good while since I last did a wetroom, but with the flooring they use (which is very expensive, primarily because there arn't many contractors who supply it) these days, should be simpler, in any event, it does seem excessive, which is funny, because when you tender for local authority work, they dictate the payments which used to be a pittance, (unless it has changed), with disabled alterations the pay used to be better, again because of a lack of choice of installers.

jaysay · 27-06-2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

That just shows how much or our monet the Council waste. £4000 for a shower fitted. Maybe its time they stopped using the contractors that charge £4000 and find some that will do it for a fraction of that and to the same standard.

Well the thing is that the last Labour council dispenced with the Direct Works Department, meaning that all contracts had to be outside tenders, even though Hyndburn Homes is no longer under the HBC umbrella, if there was still a works department they would have been able to tender for these jobs with HH and keep the money within the council for the benefit of the Council Tax Payer. I said at the time that they could be taken for a ride as far as pricing goes and whats more I actually think that Graham Jones wasn't very happy with the scrapping the works department, I seem to remember him saying as much in an earlier post

harwood red · 27-06-2008, 22:54

Blackburn no longer have a works dept either...majority tupe'd over to Twin valley a couple of years ago...but even before that, when they could do some of the adaptations their quotes came in very high!!!!

As Derek stated many of the jobs are specialised and have to be to a very high spec..but I have to say the biggest waste are the stairlifts installed.

When a property comes empty the stairlifts have to be removed as they are tailored to the individual and even if the property is advertised as adapted it isn't usually suitable to the next person!

BERNADETTE · 27-06-2008, 23:21

Quote:

harwood red When a property comes empty the stairlifts have to be removed as they are tailored to the individual and even if the property is advertised as adapted it isn't usually suitable to the next person!

Would have thought that a stairlift would be suitable for most people unless they were very obese. Can't recall Iantos being tailor made but stand to be corrected. It has been removed so can't test whether it would be ok for me.