Pensioner relies on fireman’s lift as she awaits new home.

Council unable to find home for tenant who can no longer use stairs

The family of a disabled 76-year-old Fife woman who has to rely on a “fireman’s lift” up and down two flights of stairs to access her home, have made a last-ditch bid to get her rehoused.

In a drastic attempt to end a twoyear stalemate with housing officers, Tracey Kerwin, whose mother Janet Fotheringham has lived in a council flat in Gilfillan Road, Dunfermline, for more than 40 years, posted on social media the shocking image of her mother being carried over a man’s shoulder.

“It’s utterly heartbreaking to see my mum having to go through this,” said Mrs Kerwin. “My mum no longer has the strength in her legs to climb the 16 steps up to her home, which has made her a prisoner in her own home.

“Until my son moved into the property to help get her up and down the stairs and care for her, there have been times when she has been unable to leave home for three or four weeks at a time.

“Her lack of mobility means she is no longer able to have a shower, which she is finding particularly upsetting.”

Mrs Kerwin said they had been offered a ground-floor flat in the Townhill area but the bathroom was unsuitable.

“This has been going on too long and the mental stress is beginning to take its toll. Mum is so distraught and fears she’ll die before being found a new home.

“That’s why posting up the picture of my mum on Twitter was the last resort.”

Housing officers told Mrs Kerwin there are more than 2,100 people waiting for a council property in the Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath and Cossgates area and the local authority housing stock amounts to just 212.

Alison Mitchell, lead officer, housing access and advice, said: “We took Mrs Fotheringham to view a vacant property but an on-site assessment found that she would still have problems independently accessing that home. The bathroom facilities were also unsuitable for her.

“Finding the right housing for Mrs Fotheringham has taken longer than we would have liked because of the type of accommodation the family are requesting.

“Ground floor, two-bedroom properties are in high demand in their area of choice.

“We will continue to work with the family to try and find suitable accommodation.”

Tracey Kerwin at the stairs at her mother’s Gilfillan Road building, which the OAP can no longer use.

Janet Fotheringham, 76, is given a fireman’s lift to her first-floor flat as she no longer has the strength to climb the 16 stairs.