WDH secures care grant for elderly Wakefield resident

Published by Richard Lord for Wakefield & District Housing in Housing and also in Bill Payments, Communities, Health

An elderly woman suffering from the financial strain of paying her husband’s nursing home fees has received much needed help to pay for her own care service.

Mrs Dorothy Brown, from Thornes Moor Road in Wakefield, praised Wakefield and District Housing (WDH) after their Care Link service put her in touch with a charity that could cover the cost of her own round-the-clock care.

“My husband, Raymond, moved into a nursing home a little under a year ago because he has Parkinson’s disease,” explained Mrs Brown, 77. “We had Care Link for the both of us when he lived at home but I haven’t been able to afford it since because the nursing home costs so much.

“I found Care Link so valuable. It gave me peace of mind so I was very keen to get it back. I spoke to Care Link and explained that I couldn’t afford it because of the nursing home costs.

“The next day Joy Warriner from Care Link came out to see me and asked about my circumstances. We got chatting about how Raymond had done his National Service when he was in his twenties and she put me in touch with SSAFA.”

SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) is a charity that specifically helps all service and ex-service men, women, families and their dependents. They met with Mrs Brown and explained how, through her husband, she qualified for financial assistance to the tune of £191.

“I was over the moon,” says Mrs Brown. “It makes a huge difference to me because I live by myself and I need that peace of mind.”

With Care Link back in her life, Mrs Brown now has an alarm pendant which she wears around her neck and can push in the event of an accident or if she feels vulnerable.

“I can take the pendant into the bathroom with me, I have it next to my bed and it just means I can relax and know I have help by my side.”

Care Link Visiting Officer Joy Warriner said: “We are aware of which charities can help people, and through chatting to Mrs Brown we were able to refer her to SSAFA.

“The money has helped to cover the cost of her Care Link service for 12 months and we are delighted that she now has peace and security.”