Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 9:15am
Kelty pensioner's six-month wait for shower ends
by Gary Fitzpatrick
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A DISABLED Kelty pensioner is finally having a shower installed in her home by the council after a six months delay, after her case was highlighted by the Press.
Great grandmother Jemima Richardson (78), who suffers from severe arthritis preventing her getting in and out of her bath, was assessed as needing a shower installed back in July.
However, because of a shortage of funds the council could not go ahead with the work.
Initially, she was forced to use the shower at her friend's home but after taking ill at Christmas she could not even do this and has had to make do with washing in her sink.
The council had told the family that it could be any time between this April and March 2011 before the shower was put in at the Keltyhill Avenue house.
Not surprisingly, Mrs Richardson was left feeling depressed by the situation and replied, "I could be dead by then."
However, things finally changed for the better this week and the OAP ended up being spoiled for choice.
First, a firm who had read of her plight offered to donate and put in the shower for her.
Then, the council stepped in to say that it would do it instead and to further improve her home mobility and comfort, a stairlift is being installed.
Mrs Richardson's daughter, June Harpin, of Clentry Crescent, said, "My mum and the whole family are really pleased that the shower is now to go in next week.
"It's a pity we had to go to the newspaper but that has started the ball rolling and speeded things up."
Fife Council's head of adult services, Roseanne Fearon, said, "We are pleased that we have now been able to make arrangements to install the shower for Mrs Richardson as well as fitting a stairlift.
"We are working very hard to make sure that people have the services that they need to give them independence in their own homes and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to Mrs Richardson."
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micky mac
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Feb 4 10 13:33
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hi its very nice to se council is putting shower in that she much needed .its great what a call to your local paper can do wounder how they found the cash to put shower and a stair lift going in as well this will cost a few ££££ who will suffer for this i wounder
Robert
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Feb 5 10 16:12
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When the story first broke I said that this woman appeared to be in a house too big for her and not suitable for her needs.
Can the Council justify squandering our money on a stair lift as well as a shower when more suitable housing would have been the answer.
Laura D
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Feb 5 10 18:52
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I have to agree 100% with Roberts
fiona
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Feb 5 10 19:41
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robert and laura how dare you suggest that this woman is squandering your money. how do you know that this woman has not lived there all her life and its her family home why should she at 78! be forced into moving house.i bet this woman has worked hard all her days and paid her way into the state which is more than i can say for the alcoholics and junkies who get more money and support than us who work for a living. shame on you its about time the council forked out for those that really deserve it.
NEILY-J
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Feb 8 10 15:08
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I am glad this lady got her shower and stair lift, i think the elderly do need a little extra help than the rest of all us, however it doesnt seem as though any of her family were keen too contribute which is very sad
sarah-jane
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Feb 11 10 19:36
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I am absolutely appalled that this woman has had a shower and stair lift installed simply because she has gone to the press. My mother was assessed by a occupational therapist as needing a wet floor shower and stair lift because of her disability and has to wait over 12 months for both. She had to have a bed in the living room and a commode! This woman has jumped to the front of the queue in front of other more needy people. I do not blame the council for working within the budget they are given but the MSPs and councillors who approve this money and then publicly criticise the council to the press for not having enough. This lady should not have jumped to the front of the queue in front of possible much more needy people, and the press should hound those who set the budgets in the first place.
geedoc
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Feb 11 10 23:19
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The rather mixed bag of responses to this tale are really not that surprising given the usual biased reporting of the Dunfermline Press. One must wonder why the Press totally ignores the current financial situation pertaining to all public agencies...there's no enuf money to meet all the needs.How about some balanced reporting this century.Did the press ask about relatives who could perhaps help,has the women money enough to carry out the work herself...mmmmm
jiri
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Feb 13 10 12:22
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This was interesting reading, as fiona you are so wrong with what you write, this family has lived with hand outs from the government. They should have looked at the other members of the family to see what is really happening to our money. Why should this happen to our money.
Dave
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Feb 18 10 14:05
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I am happy for this Lady. However she has jumped to the front of the queue at the detriment of people who are in more urgent need.
Head of adult service Roseanne Fearon, should have stuck to the remit of the OT services policy and budget rather than making a 'political' decision.
The only moral that can be taken from this is that if you don't get what you want from Fife Council Social Services complain to your paper, your MSP....just keep complaining and you will what you want, because highly Civil Servants such as RF want to keep their jobs and keep the mob happy.
katie
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Feb 18 10 21:24
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i am a teenager and that is my gran, i watched her suffer for the last 6 months and its great too see her happy. My gran may have jumped the queue but she was in urgent need. thanks for the good comments.
katie
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Feb 18 10 21:32
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jiri our family do not life of money from the government and how could you say that about my gran, some of these emails upset me and its not fair that you critisice her. Sarah jane you should have went to your counciler and the press about your mum.
katie
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Feb 18 10 21:32
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jiri our family do not life of money from the government and how could you say that about my gran, some of these emails upset me and its not fair that you critisice her. Sarah jane you should have went to your counciler and the press about your mum.
nicole
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Feb 24 10 11:31
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this is shocking what some people are writing she was an older women in need of a stair lift and bathn room, i saw for my saelf that this woman was struggling and needed some extra help of family as she was close to doing nothing for her self. There is no need for people saying what they are saying about her.
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