A 92-year-old woman from Rutherglen who has waited years to have a wheelchair ramp installed says she has been left imprisoned in her home.
Iris Forsyth lives in a four-in-a-block cottage-type flat and is worried that the rest of her life will be spent looking out a window.
The pensioner rarely leaves the home due to mobility issues and there are two steps at the front door of her home. Iris’ daughter Norreen Neely, who is 67-years-old moved in with her mother to take care of her, reports the Record.
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Despite an occupational therapist applying to South Lanarkshire Council to have a ramp installed over three years ago and an assessment being carried out, the elderly mother and her daughter say the council have stalled in providing any help.
“We’ve had social workers, the psychiatric nurse, and councillors on to them,” said Norreen. “They came out and assessed it, measured it and priced it.
“My mum will be 93 next month and has not been over the door for two years, she feels like a prisoner. They seem to think she’s to spend the rest of her life looking out a window.
“I came to the conclusion that it’s down to her age, and they think if they wait long enough she will die and they won’t need to put one in. It’s absolutely ridiculous, and is making her health deteriorate.
“There are only two steps at the front door and I went out and bought a short ramp to get her down and save bothering the council.
“I had Covid and lost four-and-a-half stones and can no longer take her in and out using that ramp.
“I was fit enough at the time but it would be dangerous now as I can’t get her back in.
“I’m the only family she has and she has carers who come in four times a day.”
Noreen is battling health issues of her own including tremors due to a neurological condition and now walks with a stick.
The council claim they can’t install a ramp at the property because it could potentially have an impact on the upstairs neighbour, and informed Iris and Norreen last year.
Norreen refutes that and says they have never had any letter from the council confirming that decision.
She said:“They said they would need to take the ramp from the end of the building, it’s only about four metres. I can’t get my mum to the hearing clinic or the opticians. I can’t take her anywhere as I can’t get her out the door.
“They’ve said that the upstairs neighbours might move and they’d have to come and take it away. Both our front doors are at the side of the house and it would run past his front door but he is 81 and has no problem with it. It’s a load of absolute piffle.
“I’m at my wit’s end and don’t know what else to do. This is how the council are treating their old people. They've done nothing to help”
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said: “We understand that this is a difficult situation for the family to manage and we have made every possible effort to assist them.
“Council staff completed an assessment and sought advice from contractors in considering the feasibility of providing a ramp for the property and the potential impact that if could have on their neighbours.
“Unfortunately, it was established that providing a ramp is not feasible practice as it would adversely impact on other properties.
“The family were made aware of this in September 2022 and accepted the outcome at the time.”
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