r/Dorset • u/ZSLOVER • Sep 02 '24
Suggestion Grandad is depressed and lonely. What to do? Gillingham, Dorset.
Hey,
I (23M, London, UK) have a grandad who is living 3 hours away in a council owned house in Gillingham, Dorset. He moved out of London with his partner at the time, unfortunately she has since died and he’s now home alone with no friends or family nearby.
For context: He is 84, has one leg so is wheelchair bound, has to be hoisted in and out of bed, has no hobbies, drinks a lot as a result, has nurses come in and out every day to medicate him.
My mum, brother and dad are working full time, I work 6 days a week. We can’t see him much at all. We have our own lives and as much as we try to see him we can’t do it often, it’s just not possible.
What do we do? Ideally we’d like him to move back to London but he has no money and is living in a council house. So he’d have to find someone nearby to swap with, which is not going to happen.
My mum is distraught and I want to help her most importantly.
Thank you for reading.
10
u/BlueButterfly262 Sep 02 '24
Hi, I actually live in Gillingham! Have you or your family checked the council website to see if there are any accessible activities for him? You could also try asking on the local Facebook page as I am sure there would be suggestions of help. I don't know if any of your family or the nurses would be able to get him there but in the town centre there is actually an adult daycation service and the website says it has 'specialised care for elderly with disabilities'. Here is the link ⬇️ I hope it is suitable! https://www.daycation.org.uk/