01/06/2023
When life’s tough, it can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But reaching out is the first step to make things better. That’s exactly what one resident did, when she got in touch with our Safeguarding team
Our support officer George, who worked closely with the resident, tells us more. “We were contacted by an elderly resident in a very challenging situation. When deciding how best to help, there were many different factors for us to consider. Her husband had died inside the flat, and she had severe mobility issues. An unknown male had also been visiting her, preying on her vulnerability and taking money from her.”
As well as being financially exploited, everyday tasks such as getting in and out of the flat had become extremely difficult for the resident as she depended heavily on her husband to move around.
A meeting was set up between our team and other local professionals to discuss her case, and it was agreed that an occupational therapist would visit her to assess the situation.
Despite having to wait longer than usual for the visit due to a backlog of referrals during the pandemic, the occupational therapist immediately determined that our resident needed to be moved as quickly as possible.
Being given the green light to move gave both the resident and our team hope for a brighter future. It wasn’t an easy adjustment, as she couldn’t afford the cost of moving – but with the help of More Life Home, a local pre-loved furniture store, we were able to move her in and furnish her new home at an affordable price.
George, who was on hand to help her get set-up, says, “We focused on what was best for our resident and how to keep her safe by working closely with the other support agencies. She’s now moved into a much more suitable home and is away from the man who stole money from her.”