Man seeking new home for ill wife

Man seeking new home for ill wife

10 August 2016

A DOWNPATRICK man has urged his social housing provider to provide a new home for his wheelchair-bound wife.

Lenny Galbraith said his wife Margaret’s rheumatoid arthritis was worsening.

Last month he complained of a delay in installing a hand rail outside the front of his Meadowlands home. A hand rail was subsequently installed by Choice Housing.

However, Mr Galbraith said his 54 year-old wife could now not get out of her wheelchair to use the front entrance. He said he was now having to get help to carry her wheelchair over steps to the rear of the two-storey property. 

On Saturday evening, he said his wife fell out of the wheelchair as this was being done.

“She fell and hurt her arm,” he said. “There was a bit of a bruise.”

Mr Galbraith said he was on the transfer list for a new house and would need a ramp for the wheelchair in the meantime. He said not enough was being done to help them.

“We have all the points you can get,” he said. “I have diabetes as well.”

Mr Galbraith said he was also on a Housing Executive waiting list for a property.

A spokeswoman for Choice Housing said: “Choice has been in contact with the tenants to fit all suitable and practical adaptations as recommended by the Occupational Therapist. However, it is not possible to fit a ramp that will comply with Building Control regulations at the front of tenants’ property.  A housing transfer request has been made and Choice is liaising with the Housing Executive’s Support Service Officer to ensure accommodation that is more suitable for the family can be identified and provided as quickly as possible. We will continue to provide advice and support in any way that we can.”

A spokeswoman for the Housing Executive said: “We can confirm the family is on a housing association management transfer list.  The type of home required in the area in which the family would like to live is limited.  We will, of course, keep in contact regarding future housing opportunities.”