Plea for help
A desperate woman suffering from seven chronic illnesses is begging to be looked after.
Margaret Lewis is housebound and claims to be unable to perform simple duties, like cook for herself.
A desperate woman suffering from seven chronic illnesses is begging to be looked after.
Margaret Lewis, of Troon, is housebound and claims to be unable to perform simple duties, like cook for herself.
But social services say she is to be put on a ‘ re- ablement’ programme to help ‘ boost her independence’.
The 64- year- old has recently been re- homed after her house went on fire.
She says she used to receive 23 hours of care a week before it was taken away.
And her son Steven Lewis, 44, also has disabilities and has a letter from his doctor to say he is not fit to look after her.
Margaret said: “I’m housebound and disabled. I’ve got mental health problems and seven chronic illnesses. I’ve got no social worker, that was taken away and they’ve taken my care off me.
“My mobility is terrible, I can’t even cook anything for myself.
“My diabetes has caused cellulitis on my leg, a nurse is in every second day dressing my leg.
“It’s been awful, my house went on fire so they put me into a temporary accommodation for six months before they gave me the bungalow I’m in now.
“And my son has had a brain injury so he’s not fit to look after me.”
Margaret’s partner Robert Lewis, of Maybole, died 13 years ago.
Since then Margaret and son Steven have remained joined at the hip.
But after the former barber was beaten up several years ago, he now has a shunt in his head and suffers from his own mental health problems.
Steven said: “I’ve got injuries and brain problems.
“It is absolutely diabolical the way my mother has been treated.
“I may have had a brain operation but I still have manners and the way she has been treated is a disgrace. The council should admit they have made a mistake.
“I have always been here for my mum but I’m not fit to do what I used to be able to do, but I’m always here for a conversation.
“I’m not as bad as her, I can make her a cup of tea. But I’m not fit enough to look after her. I’ve got a letter from my doctor to say I’m not fit enough.”
Margaret was a former machinist at the Falmers jean factory in Cumnock.
But she’s been unable to work since her illnesses arrived.
She’s had heart failure and two arrests, renal issues, is diabetic, has polymyalgia, asthma, the lung condition COPD, has had two toes severed, has had a blood clot and celullitis in both legs, takes mini- strokes and is treated under the mental health act.
But she says her social worker took away her care because she wasn’t doing her personal care.
She said: “I was getting 23 hours care a week and then my social worker stopped it.
“He said I wasn’t using the care right because I wasn’t doing the personal care, but you can’t do the personal care when your legs are bandaged every second day.
“I need help. I can’t even go near a kettle incase I get burnt.
“Now they say I’m supposed to be getting a social worker from Troon, but they are saying there is a waiting list.
“I need help now, I can’t look after myself and my boy is not fit to look after me. We have been treated really badly.”
A council spokesman said: “We always strive to provide the best care possible and nobody who needs care is ever denied it.
“In this case, new accommodation has recently been provided to the client and following the move, a home visit took place to determine the level of social care required.
“As a result of this visit the client will undertake a programme of re- ablement to help boost their independence.
“The client has also been referred to Occupational Therapy who will assess if any equipment is required to help independent living.
“There are no immediate risks to the safety of the client and they are currently being supported by Seascape Housing Support to maintain their tenancy.”