Hi Tangerine,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am so sorry to hear of these circumstances. 

Is this family on any sort of benefit? It sounds as if they should be getting additional payment, which might help ease some of their financial issues. There may be an information centre at the hospital, which could help them. Macmillan  will also help out if you give them a ring. If the family has a social worker, this would be another approach. What is the father's prognosis? If it is less than 6 months, any benefits can be fast tracked to the patient. All travelling payments should be covered by the NHS, but this should be confirmed with the hospital, in the first instance.

Please keep in touch and let us know how they get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Tangerine,

I am delighted to hear that you have managed to get help from Macmillan. If the couple are going to be evicted, it sounds as if they should have a social worker to fight their corner re re-housing, especially when language is such a barrier. The new house should either be on the ground floor, with easy access or be a flat, with lift access. There would also need to be easy access to toilet facilities. There is always a big demand for this type of housing and a social worker can be helpful in facilitating this move. I, personally, have no experience of Glioma, but I would expect that they are as likely as anyone else, to spend their end stage in a hospice, provided that there is a space available. A social worker could possibly help with arranging this too.

There may be a need for some equipment to be installed to help the couple to live in the house safely. Items such as grab rails in the shower, or around the house, commode, bed pans, urinals, bed rails, safety equipment in the kitchen, walking sticks, walkers, zimmers, etc. Again, the social worker can arrange for a visit from the occupational therapist, who will assess the couple for their needs. These items will be provided free of cost.

I hope that you manage to get the housing problem sorted soon. It must be incredibly difficult trying to preempt some of the problems that are likely to crop up in the coming months. You might find it helpful to phone the nurses on this forum to get an idea of what lies ahead health wise. They are available Mon - Fri from 9.00am - 5.00pm. Their number is 0808 800 4040.

Please keep in touch and let u know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx