John aged 74, has a diagnosis of Mesothelioma and our expert solicitors are supporting him with a compensation claim related to his illness. Sadly, John was mugged while out in the community and suffered a fractured cheekbone and injury to his foot.
The incident left him anxious and frightened to be on his own. Out of concern for his welfare, our solicitor referred John to one of our Client Support Managers, Jacquie, whose support and guidance has improved his quality of life.
John’s Care Needs
Mesothelioma is a life-limiting illness, which means John could deteriorate quickly at short notice. He lives on his own in a third floor flat in a supported living complex. He’s estranged from most of his family, other than his son, who lives locally but rarely visits.
When Jacquie first met John shortly after he came home from hospital, he was in pain and complaining of dizziness. He was very anxious and distressed, needing lots of reassurance that Jacquie was there to help him.
In the aftermath of being mugged, John was fearful of being on his own at night. So much so, that when he was first discharged from hospital he asked if he could move into a care home. But John’s level of need didn’t meet the criteria for a local authority funded placement, and he couldn’t afford to pay privately.
The assessment also concluded that he didn’t need additional support at home, which John thought was because he told staff he could get up, showered, and dressed independently.
John arrived home from hospital without any food, limited cash, no bank card, and his furniture was no longer safe for him to use. His lung and hospice nurses hadn’t been informed of his discharge and neither had the warden in his living complex. He was finding it hard to cope with daily tasks, manage his medication and affairs, and he struggled to get out of his chair.
Finding The Right Support
Jacquie, who comes from a social work background, was introduced to John by our workplace illness solicitor Stephen Fitzwalter. She supported John to adjust his home environment to suit his needs to help him become more independent. Her knowledge of the statutory framework and its limitations meant she could recommend achievable solutions and engage private services where necessary.
Some simple changes made life easier for John like buying a raiser recliner chair, which he can get in and out of easily. She organised his medication, cleared out-of-date food from his fridge and arranged his paperwork so he could find important letters and appointment details.
Jacquie liaised with John’s lung nurse and the Hospice Hub to make sure his medical needs were reviewed, and his situation monitored.
Addressing John’s fears of being alone, Jacquie notified the warden, encouraged John to wear his care alarm on his wrist while at home. She also offered ideas for staying safe in the community. Jacquie also helped him activate his new bank card and accompanied him on his first trip to withdraw cash, to manage his heightened anxiety.
To give him additional support, Jacquie arranged for a private carer to visit John each morning. The carer helps with breakfast, cleans, and spends an hour each week helping John with his shopping. The regular contact has reassured John and allowed him to rebuild his confidence.
Jacquie also helped John make plans to attend his son’s wedding, which he was worried he’d have to miss. With the suggestion that he hired a wheelchair for the day, arranged a ‘disabled access’ taxi and paid a carer to go with him to the ceremony. This gave him the reassurance he needed to look forward to the occasion.
What Our Support Means To John
Staying in touch with John through phone calls, texts, and visits, has helped him feel supported without becoming dependent on Jacquie.
The changes at home and regular visits from a carer have helped John regain his independence. He no longer feels like he wants to move into a care home and he’s once again enjoying his trips to the pub three times a week. He feels much more confident and is grateful to Jacquie for the difference she’s made.
John said: “Jacquie I love talking to you. I also appreciate your help that you give me. You are such a great person, so kind, caring and helpful to me.”
Our mesothelioma support team are available to help answer various questions you or a loved one may have.
*John isn’t our client’s real name. This case study has been anonymised to protect the identity of our client.
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