Pensioner trapped in home regains independence
NEW RAMP MEANS MAURICE CAN NOW GET OUT AGAIN
A DERBYSHIRE man who couldn’t get out of his own home because of steps outside his council bungalow has finally got his independence back after two years of waiting.
Maurice Reed, who uses a wheelchair, found himself living a nightmare due to the steps at the front of his Swadlincote property which he couldn’t get down.
The bungalow is owned by South Derbyshire District Council and it was agreed two years ago that Mr Reed needed a ramp due to his wheelchair – but two years on he was still waiting.
But there is now some good news as the 84-year-old former mechanic’s wait is finally over.
Mr Reed, who also worked as a taxi driver, now has his ramp and can get out of the house.
Although the council has not yet fully completed the work, it is set to be finished and has come as a great relief to him and his whole family.
His son Adam said: “He is over the moon. I bought him an electric wheelchair so he can get out more on his own. We are waiting for the door to be changed but he can manage temporarily.
“He has not been out much yet as they did not remove the barriers until late last week, and the skip and stuff is still about.
“I am happy he finally can get out on his own, even just to the garden.”
Mr Reed’s battle was reported earlier this month as he had only been out twice in two years, with the help of his son Adam, to get his Covid jab.
The thought of getting the wheelchair up and down the steps scared him so it resulted in him never leaving the house.
The pandemic played a part in him being trapped in the house as he had to isolate due to his age, and he understood that. This also added to the delay.
The district council has since apologised for the delay in getting Maurice the ramp and he is now happy to be able to get in and out of his house once again.
The father-of-three, who has 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, has lived in the bungalow for more than 10 years and sadly ended up in a wheelchair at the end of 2019.
The bungalow has three steps at the front door and the back door is too small to get the wheelchair through. Speaking at the start of this month before the ramp was installed, Councillor Gordon Rhind, chairman of South Derbyshire District Council’s housing and community services committee, said: “The welfare of our tenants is important to us and I can confirm that our contractors will begin work next week.
“We have contacted Mr Reed’s family to apologise for the delay to the work to improve his accessibility to his home and for the inconvenience that this has caused.”
I am happy he finally can get out on his own, even just to the garden.
Son Adam Reed