Disabled Caernarfon woman without shower for 16 months

Sep 4 2008 By Alex Hickey

A DISABLED woman has been left without proper washing facilities for 16 months in her housing association home.

Cymdeithas Tai Eryri tenant Rose Cary, 54, has been forced to wash at the sink at her house in Maesincla, Caernarfon, with the help of a carer.

Mrs Cary is registered disabled and suffers from severe arthritis and other medical conditions which have rendered her barely able to walk, and in need of regular physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

She said: "I had a walk-in shower installed in my upstairs bathroom over three years ago which has leaked since I first switched it on.

"About 16 months ago the leaks became so bad that they caused part of my kitchen ceiling to collapse, leaving a gaping hole, and ever since I have been unable to use the shower and need to wash at the kitchen sink with the help of my carer."

The Caernarfon woman moved into the Maesincla home, with her pensioner husband Jim, five years ago from a Gwynedd Council owned bungalow in Fron.

"It’s the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I have had problems with this house right from the start," she said.

The couple had to move from Fron because she found it difficult to access the building because of her deteriorating health.

However she claims the Maesincla home is equally unsuited for the needs of a disabled person.

"Leaving aside the problems with the shower, I have difficulty accessing the front of the house because of the high steps, the kitchen needs modifying as I am unable to access the cupboards, and although a stair lift has been installed, the bannister bumps against my knees when I’m on the chair.

"We have raised these issues time and time again with Tai Eryri and we don’t seem to get anywhere."

This week Tai Eryri sent builders in to repair the ceiling and replace the shower, but Mrs Cary is furious it has taken so long to resolve the problem and claims her current situation, in the short-term at least, is even worse.

"The builders have told me they have no idea when the work will be finished so in the meantime my carer has to help wash me with a bucket in my bedroom." I can’t use the sink when there are builders milling around the house."

She has asked Tai Eryri to temporarily rehouse her and her husband while the repair work to her shower takes place but it has been unable to do so.

"They did offer to rehouse me in shared disabled accommodation, but not my husband."

Tai Eryri chief executive Walis George said it carried out major adaptations for tenants with a disability only when requested by Gwynedd Council’s social services department.

"All such referrals are referred to and dealt with by Gofal a Thrwsio Gwynedd and Cymdeithas Tai Eryri’s only role as landlord is to grant or refuse such requests for permission to undertake adaptations to a property.

"Gofal a Thrwsio Gwynedd installed the shower in question nearly three years ago and we are aware that they incurred some difficulties with the contractor who installed the shower. No requests have been received from social services for a ramp or kitchen modification."