Couple living on small pension told they are not eligible for grant to help move son home
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Christian Herries’ life has not been easy.
At 50 years old, he has multiple medical problems, including schizophrenia, heart disease and osteoporosis. Now, apart from all this, he has learned to walk and talk again due to the recent brain damage he suffered. She has to undergo several months of therapy to learn to support herself physically and to correct her slurred speech.
Most of all, after more than 16 months in hospital, she is determined to get back to her parents’ home in Mahone Bay, NS.
His mother, Ruth, says the hospital has been trying to discharge Christian for several months, but it’s a move that is proving difficult. She thinks the province should do more to help.
“As everyone says, it’s cheaper to send them home and for them to be around family. But you can’t bring them home,” says Ruth Herridge.
She’s worried her home isn’t ready to take in someone with so many special needs. Christian’s bedroom is on the second floor. And while fundraisers helped install a chair lift, the family believes it is too cumbersome for their small, cramped home. The family wants to build a bedroom on the first floor for easy access to the nearby bathroom.
There are provincial government programs to help make homes accessible, but Ruth Herridge says the criteria are too limited.
She applied to the Nova Scotia Department of Growth and Development for assistance. But they received a letter saying the family’s savings exceeded the $25,000 “total household investment” limit. As a result, they are not eligible for home repair assistance.
Christian Herriage is supported by social assistance payments. Ruth Herridge says she and her husband survive on their small pension, supported by monthly payments from the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security.
She says she told the province about “a few thousand dollars” that they were holding to give to the Christians if they passed.
“We’re not trying to hurt anyone or take advantage of anyone. This is for Christian and his quality of life. Our income is a little over $25,000. It doesn’t add up,” Herridge says.
Nova Scotia Health’s goal is for patients to go home to recover as soon as it is safe to do so. In their promotional video, they say it’s not about freeing up beds, which the department says could cost nearly $1,000 a day.
But Ruth Herridge argues that more money should be available to help patients’ families make the transition and get them out of hospital.
Over the past few years, the province has increased the “gross domestic investment” limit from $15,000 to $25,000.
The province will provide some home care services and some disability support equipment. The local PC MLA’s office says it is also working to try to find other ways to help the family.
In the meantime, there is a possibility of Christian being moved into the house permanently without any major renovations to prevent him from going into a nursing home.
His mother said, “The suggestion was made for him to go to a home or another facility because they don’t feel this is a safe home for him where my husband and I are failing.”
“But we have some people who are willing to help us make sure it’s a good change for Christians to be here with us.”. We will not let him fall at any cost.”
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