pls pls advice needed

sand678

im looking for some info from anyone who can

ok, so there is a Hungarian family living beside me, a couple and there two kids. anyway the family are on social welfare and are very poor, mom is in hospital dying with pancreatic cancer and has only two months to live, the doctor does all his communication with the thirteen yr old son as mom and dad have barley any enghlish,

the family can barley afford the trip to Dublin once a week to see her, I guess what I want to no is what can he do?? is there any help out there for them. they just seem to be high and dry at the moment

thanking you

cocker5

My god OP I couldn’t read and no respond….. firstly I am so so sorry for this family especially with the children being so young.

It’s like a flash back to my life 2 years ago….
My mum was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer, she lived 18 weeks after diagnoses, and to be honest OP it’s a very hard journey for the person who has the cancer (and for the family looking on).
All cancers are horrendous but pancreatic cancer is particularly a bad one, and very cruel speaking from direct experience.
Thankfully we were able to care for my mum at home (but she did spend 8 weeks of her 18 weeks in hospital).

Op firstly if they are in receipt of SW they should contact the community care / welfare officer in their local area (google them), they can provide emergency funds so they can visit her in hospital.
Do you mind if I ask what hospital is she in? My mum was in Tallaght.

Where are the family based, once a week is not enough for them to visit, trust me the 2 months will go fast and its time they will NEVER get back with her, and plus she needs them by her side during this very difficult and frightening journey for her.
What about the SW putting the family up in Dublin so they can be with her? ie in a bedsit or something, Im sure if they ask something can be done, if they don’t ask they won’t receive…. Thank god when my mum was in hospital we were able to be with her all the time…

Is there any way she can come home?
They are lots of support that can be put in place to help keep her at home (a hospital is no place for a person to pass from cancer)

Contact their local hospice for advice? if you can let me know the area the family is in I will try and research places for them to contact for help?

If she is allowed home their palliative care in their area will contact them and call out to help, they will also provide items for the house that will help her stay at home and be comfortable.

The Irish cancer society also provide 10 full days of in home care for cancer patients (and longer for families in difficulty) – speaking from Experience they are amazing

http://hospicefoundation.ie/

http://www.cancer.ie/

you can PM of I can be of any further help XXXX

cocker5

sorry OP also just wanted to say your a very good neighbour etc to be looking out for them - they are lucky to have you so close by.

One last thing my close friends would do stuff like cook a shepards pie etc and drop it in to me or something once per week as they knew we were up the walls etc - while it sounds crazy it really helped, we didnt have much time to shop for food or cook, so it was an excellent gesture.

Just an idea maybe some of the neighbours could do something like this Im sure it would be greatly received by the husband and children XX

If you give me an approx location i will do some research and see if i can find some help out there for them...

Home help , meals on wheels, etc they are all available you just have to fight for them... with the kids being sooo young the HSE will have to step in and help, they just have to make enough noise....and ill help anyway i can X

cocker5

These may help X

http://www.cancer.ie/how-we-can-help/coping/managing-money#sthash.RPLm4s7Y.dpbs

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/cancer_services/cancer_services.html

http://socialworkandcancer.com/support-2/financial-support

http://www.cancer.ie/how-we-can-help/coping/palliative-care/frequently-asked-questions#sthash.AHrDGhpg.dpbs

neemish

A couple of things - there should be a medical social worker in the hospital who will be able to advise on entitlements etc, and perhaps look at the situation and see if that hospital is the most suitable place for the Mom to be.
As a neighbour, I would advise Dad to look for/demand an interpreter from the hospital. It really isn't fair on anyone for a 13 year old to be expected to do this.
If there are financial difficulties related to getting to the hospital, are there a few neighbours who might be willing to step in and do a trip to Dublin once a week. If three people a week did that, it might be a huge help. Also, the Vincent de Paul might be able to help with the costs of this.
Definitely, the Irish Cancer Soc. should be able to help, as should the most local Hospice.

But really it depends on if this family is willing to accept help. If they are, there are lots of supports available.

sand678

thank you for your replys, cocker5 im so so sorry for you loss, sorry I havnt been back sooner but unfortunately we just buried my aunt this morning from the same thing.

a quick update. the family are from Mullingar and fortunately the mom has been transferred from Dublin to tullamore, so at least its closer. im taking the dad there on Monday morning to meet the consultant and there will be a translator there thank god,

I called to the house this morning and the house was freezing, he cant afford oil, the son told me they were really struggling with money on top of everything else. we can help with lifts and stuff but not financially, unfortunately, feel so bad for them

Gatling

Contact your local St Vincent de pauls they maybe be able to help the family with heating and other things call them first thing on Monday if you can

sand678

went to svp in Mullingar this morning, the lady gave me the regional number to ring. iv called them but not getting an answer, must be closed on Saturday. ill def try them again on Monday,

colrow

Maybe asking on State Benefits forum might help ?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=861

Gatling

sand678 wrote: »

went to svp in Mullingar this morning, the lady gave me the regional number to ring. iv called them but not getting an answer, must be closed on Saturday. ill def try them again on Monday,

Yes do but go back to your local one too sometimes it can take weeks for help to filter down from the main offices to the local branch

cocker5

OP,

Really sorry to hear about your Aunt…. hope you and your family are doing ok X

With regard to your neighbours… these websites may help, but they must ask for help themselves unfortunately if they are not willing to engage etc. very little will be done.

http://www.northwestmeathhospice.ie/

http://hospicefoundation.ie/supporting-you/

http://larcc.ie/our-services/


Mullingar
Mullingar Health Centre Longford Road Surnames (A-D) (L-N)

044- 9336061

Tuesday: 2.00pm - 3.15pm
Thursday: 10.00am - 11.15am


Mullingar
Mullingar Health Centre Longford Road Surnames (O-Z)

044- 9336066

Tuesday: 10.00am - 11.15am
Thursday:2.00pm - 3.15pm



Social Work Dept., Child & Family Centre, Springfield, Mullingar, Co Westmeath 044 9384450


SVP
044-9343868

internet svp.mullingar@eircom.net



St Dominics/ Meals on Wheels</SPAN>
Address: College Street, Mullingar Co. Westmeath
Phone: 044 93 44566


Barnardos Centre
1 Belville Apartments, The Longford Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
T:044 - 93 352 82 E: info@mullingar.barnardos.ie (mailto:info@mullingar.barnardos.ie)

Someone needs to make contact with the above numbers and im sure they will be able to help somewhat… if they can’t they can point the person in the rights direction.
Best of luck

New Home

What a desperate situation, those poor people... I'm just wondering if the Hungarian Embassy/Consulate would be able to help at all, they may have something set up for situations like this...

New Home

New Home wrote: »

What a desperate situation, those poor people... I'm just wondering if the Hungarian Embassy/Consulate would be able to help at all, they may have something set up for situations like this...

Sounds like a great idea, well worth a try anyway