Despite being trapped in a house upstairs on 26 tablets a day, Stan nevertheless got through each day using his strongly entrenched Commando Spirit.
He is an intensely proud former serving Royal Marine. He faced much personal danger and adversity during his seven years of service (during which time he served in Aden) but none of that had ever made life as difficult than the situation he found himself in over the past few years.
Now, in his late ‘70s and in extremely poor health, he copes daily with much grinding physical discomfort from multiple medical issues including chronic kidney and heart disease, arthritis and type 2 diabetes. His wife and main carer, too, is also not in the best of health having just undergone a painful knee replacement, making it difficult for her to help Stan as much as he needs with his own mobility challenges.
Due to the lack of downstairs toilet facilities in the house, and after several nasty falls on the stairs, Stan had little choice but to remain upstairs for the majority of the day. Financial considerations meant that the obvious solution of downsizing to a bungalow was not a viable option.
A fellow Bootneck became concerned and contacted one of the Charity’s local support volunteers to see if anything could be done to make life a bit easier for the family – but primarily, safer.
Our Health & Wellbeing team immediately set about a rigorous assessment of Stan’s situation and, within a couple of months, awarded a beneficiary grant of £2,800 to fit a stairlift to the property so he can go up and downstairs whenever he wants.
Stan calls it a ‘godsend’ and is now able to once again enjoy family life, no longer feeling an outcast in his own home.
“On behalf of Stan and Jennifer,” says support volunteer Phil, “I wish to thank you and all the RM Family for their support. I only had to make one call and the RM support family got into gear.”