Thousands back disabled man’s plea for help to live in own home
THOUSANDS have backed the plight of a disabled Cardonald man by calling for the council to care for him at home.
Kevin McGeowan’s complex needs mean he requires 24-hour care but he has been able to maintain his independence thanks to roundthe-clock care providers.
However, his family claim the 38-year-old’s life was drastically changed when financial cutbacks meant Kevin could no longer get the vital service.
Despite numerous attempts, the family and Glasgow City Council were unable to reach an agreement to provide care for Kevin, resulting in him being moved to a Steppes care home on September 20.
His sister Lyndsey, who started the petition, claims her brother has been “forced” from his home.
Writing on the Change.org petition site, she said: “I can’t explain how detrimental this will impact on his well-being, and particularly his mental health, because he will no longer have the opportunity to live independently and lead the active social life he currently has without one-toone support and live nearby his close-knit family and friends.”
She added: “We are not taking this lightly and will keep fighting for Kevin till he is back living independently in his own home.”
The petition has already garnered 4,107 signatures in two weeks.
The council insists its health and social care partnership has worked with Kevin and his family to resolve the issue. A spokeswoman said: “This is not about money. Relationship breakdown with Kevin’s family prompted the third-sector service provider to withdraw from his care arrangement.
“Kevin was previously offered a place in a specialist unit for younger people with disabilities close to his home, but his family did not deem it acceptable.
“Some time ago, he was also offered a shared supported tenancy in the
‘‘ We are not taking this lightly – we’ll keep fighting
community but again this was rejected by his family.
“We have a statutory duty to ensure Kevin is cared for in a safe place and, unfortunately, given other options have been turned down and the family cannot provide the necessary level of care, the care home is the only alternative available. We agree it is not a suitable long-term environment for someone his age and efforts continue to find an appropriate alternative.”