Disabled Inveraray woman is ‘a prisoner in her own home’
A MOTHER left disabled after a brain injury is at the centre of a row between her family and a social housing provider.
Inveraray woman Mary MacLean and her family’s lives were turned upside down when she was left paralysed after suffering a brain aneurism and stroke in December 2014.
A year later, she got home from hospital but it was apparent that her two-storey family home wasn’t suitable.
Her daughter Megan said: ‘She’s kind of plateaued now. Social work, the NHS and the community care team have been brilliant. We were able to get her home for Christmas and they went above and beyond.’
Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) was building a social housing complex in Inveraray and Mary was delighted when she was told a home would be built specifically for her needs, giving her greater quality of life. The joy was shortlived as they were left reeling when they recently heard that the house had been allocated to someone else. ‘The occupational therapist and social work had been involved in making sure it was done specifically for her,’ said Megan.
Mary and her family were pinning their hopes on this house. Now it is impossible to get Mary to the bathroom as there is only a small washroom downstairs and she sleeps in the living room. Megan said: ‘She’s a prisoner in her own home.’
ACHA said it was informed that adaptations would be done to the MacLeans’ current home and they were no longer in need of this new house.
The association goes on to claim that Argyll and Bute Council social work department said in March that it did need the house.
ACHA chief executive Alastair MacGregor said: ‘By this stage there was another family with a greater housing need on the list and the MacLeans’ application could only be considered on a waiting list, housing need basis as they were returning for consideration after the earlier withdrawal. The other family have been offered the house on the basis of their needs assessment.’
Mary’s family are not taking this lying down. They have created a Facebook page and got the shocked community of Inveraray involved.
There is a petition in almost every shop in the town including the Pier Shop where Mary used to work.
It is run by her sister-in-law, Gwen Lindsay, who said: ‘When the family phoned and said she hadn’t got the house. I thought they were on the wind up. We all thought it was a sure thing.’
Mary enjoys going to the Pier Shop to see old colleagues and friends but these days she needs two carers to make it possible.
The people of Inveraray are up in arms about the situation. ‘Mary is born and bred Inveraray. There is no one more deserving of the house,’ said one.
Councillor Sandy Taylor has been made aware of the case and said: ‘It’s a very difficult situation with Mary’s complex and changing needs. I will work with Fyne Homes and social work to help find a solution.’ The Argyllshire
Advertiser asked Argyll and Bute Council about its involvement but it did not respond.