sheltered accommodation wheelchair

This is classified as a ‘single-person’s’ flat. It has wider corridors and rails  – which are not in all the flats of the fold.

When I first moved here I thought it was brilliant!

On the day I moved in I fell. I couldn’t get up… and so I just lay there on my back for 18 hours.

Fortunately, the maintenance guy came to clear the shower drain in my bathroom. When he knocked the door I was able to get help.

In hospital they found I had DVT in my leg. I had to wait six months for that to clear before I got out.

wheelchair -friendly design sheltered accommodation kitchen

The kitchen is wheelchair accessible.

You can move all the cupboards underneath to bring your wheelchair right in.

I’ve started baking shortbread. It’s a very simple recipe. ..very crumbly.

My mother used to make it at home.  I hadn’t done it for a while.  I made it when I lived in the flat upstairs but that old cooker was so bad it never turned out right. On this new cooker it works pretty well, so I’m going to try and make scones next. 

I used Paul Holywood’s recipe for the shortbread from the internet…. it works out lovely.

wheelchair user  desk, IT

I’ve independence here.

The coordinator organises different events in-house and we go once to a month to the museum for a day out. We do crafts and stuff like that. There’s a ‘Breakfast Club’ one day a week and ‘Afternoon Tea’. I’m one of the more active ones living here.

You don’t have to join in if you don’t want to.   

This place is dead at the weekend. We’re trying to think up things to start up at the weekend.

wheelchair-friendly sheltered accommodation

With the wheelchair obviously I have to be careful.

I arranged this flat to suit myself with the wheelchair. I wouldn’t put carpets down because they would catch on the wheels.

It’s reasonably well set-up now. I use trolleys to move things around at night time.

I find that door is a wee bit tight for the wheelchair.  

When I open the door to go out it slams shut a bit too quickly for me. But I’ve got used to it now.  

When I’m turning the wheelchair to go into the bedroom the shape of the door is a bit awkward there….…it’s too tight a corner.

My bathroom is fitted out with pull cords, and I have a wrist alarm that links to a call centre.

hospital bed with hoist in sheltered accommodation bedroom

I have a hospital bed here. When I was ill I couldn’t move and had to be hoisted out of bed. All this equipment was supplied by the health service. I did need a lot of help.

Since my operation things have improved drastically.

The carers used to come four times a day, but now I am more active it’s two times a day. They come in to get me dressed and washed.

Every morning they wash me on the bed and then I stand up and get my clothes on. The girls make me my breakfast. Then they bring me in here and that’s basically me for the rest of the day – unless I go out with some friends, maybe for lunch.

Every day I’m getting stronger and stronger.

photo and lampshade sheltered accommodation

The other people living in this fold tend to be older. I would be one of the younger ones – their decor tastes are different from mine.

I would be more of a minimalist – they would be more fancy than me. But everyone to their own taste.

This style wouldn’t suit everyone.

large TV, sheltered accommodation

I like big TV’s. This one is 65” Ultra-definition TV.

I have internet on the TV. I Skype  friends in Spain and America. My cousin lives in San Francisco and I Skype him.

After mum died I was a bit down and my cousin said why don’t you come out. So I went out for 5 weeks and had a great time. I Skype him about once a month and other friends regularly too. Skype’s great.

wheelchair user at home in sheltered accommodation.

A car  gives you the freedom to get out and about.

I had to give the car up when I was in the hospital. No use in it just sitting there.

I’m going to see the Doctor the end of next week and I’m hoping to get a car back by the end of the year.

Nuala Rooney

I am designer, educator and researcher developing creative and holistic human-centred insights within the social/spatial sphere.

You may also like...

2 Comments

  1. I am delighted that you have done the blog for my cousin Drew. Unfortunately my health not great & can’t drive to see him but his situation is so much improved and he looks so content. My mum & Dad talk every week to Drew and they were also very pleased to see his living situation. Drew was very poorly the last time they saw him and after a heart attack my Dad can no longer drive from Warrenpoint. Thank you for this. I will message Drew and let him know I’ve seen the blog…… x

    1. Dear Jenny,

      It was a pleasure to meet your cousin and to hear his story and I am so pleased that you were able to show the blog to your family. I am delighted that he was able to participate. Thankyou for your comments – it really means a lot.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.