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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Adult disabled child - would you help?

50 replies

Supersimkin2 · 20/06/2021 20:11

MNetters, please be the jury. I am a regular posting on behalf of an old friend - we both really want to know if this scenario is normal.

The lady is single, early 50s, and after a high-flying career in journalism, developed bipolar disorder in her 40s. Since then she's been unable to work and on benefits. She supports her elderly parents and a couple of other oldsters in the family. Volunteers for a charity.

She's currently based in Edinburgh, where rents are sky high, with no hope of permanence as her landlord is redeveloping her shabby-but-gorgeous Georgian flat. Savings long gone. She needs a roof over her head.

She's been offered a bedsit in Wales by a history charity (she wrote for history mags).

But here's the rub... her family don't want her to move. They are, by any standards, very well off. Parents house must be worth 3m, they spend 3k a week on dementia care for her mother. Uncle spends another 3k a week on private healthcare for alcoholic aunt.

The elders did well from inheritance, but didn't pass anything down. They refused to help with a flat deposit way back when so she was stuck renting.

The elders dont want her to move, and are pressuring her with dire warnings of what might happen to them if she stops the daily care. But they don't want to help her with a home,

Please vote.

YABU = suck it up, no one has a duty of care to a disabled adult child

YANBU = Family cuts both ways. With this lot, she'd be a lot better off moving as far away as possible.

OP posts:
randomkey123 · 20/06/2021 20:14

Is she going to be at the mercy of this charity though? If it's not a permanent home, she could be in the same situation again. That's what would worry me.

Hankunamatata · 20/06/2021 20:15

If it's a permanent council style flat then I'd take it. If family want her near then they need to help her afford somewhere or offer a roof over her head

RedHelenB · 20/06/2021 20:16

If kts a chance if a permanent hone she definitely needs to take it.

Hellocatshome · 20/06/2021 20:17

Would her being isolated from her family be good for her given her Bipolar? Can she not move in with her family members?

Benediction · 20/06/2021 20:20

Why could this lady not buy when in her high flying career? I don't believe that any adult is "entitled" to help. I never got support to buy from my parents and am a similar age, and bought way back in 2000 when it was much much cheaper to get on the housing ladder. Her family weren't to know her circumstances would change.

Does she perceive that the traffic is entirely one way in terms of her relationships? Will she be able to visit easily? Does she want to maintain relationships with her family? Does she have a social circle in Wales? I would worry this is out of the frying pan and into the fire tbh.

Trevsadick · 20/06/2021 20:25

Her parents spend 3k in helath care a week and she still needs to care for them?

She needs to do what's best for her. If they wanted her to stay, they would help her out financially.

Hell, if I was very rich , I would help my adult children even without a disability.

Comedycook · 20/06/2021 20:29

It seems shockingly mean of them to accept card yet offer no help in return. I think she should now do whatever is best for herself.

Comedycook · 20/06/2021 20:30

Accept help I mean

Twoforthree · 20/06/2021 20:33

She can’t afford to stay. They want her to stay, they need to help her.

Akire · 20/06/2021 20:37

If she can’t afford to stay she goes. Does no one in family have a bedroom she can rent? Is she providing so much care but doesn’t have to live in? Hard enough to rent. Near impossible on benefits and disabilities from a private landlord. Is she supposed to stay and sleep in the car?

Supersimkin2 · 20/06/2021 20:39

@Akire she can't afford a car. Last time I saw her she was tottering home from the food bank to deal with booking her DM another private doc appt for an eye infection.

OP posts:
Aprilx · 20/06/2021 20:43

I don’t understand the YABU and YANBU? Aren’t they both “anti” the relatives. Confused

Supersimkin2 · 20/06/2021 20:45

No, none of them is anti- anyone. No fight on offer, sorry.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 20/06/2021 20:48

What support is she providing to family given they are spending 3k a week? That sounds like 24 hour care at home?

Supersimkin2 · 20/06/2021 20:50

it is 24 h care, but the carers don't speak English much and can't manage things like bills, healthcare, dentists, repairmen, you name it. So there's a lot of admin daily to do.

OP posts:
HotPenguin · 20/06/2021 20:51

The situation with the family seems unfair, but she shouldn't move to Wales unless it really is a good move for her. Is the flat permanent, would she know anyone? She ought to go on the social housing list in Edinburgh and not leave her current flat until she has somewhere to go to.

Supersimkin2 · 20/06/2021 20:53

Waiting times for social housing in Eburgh and surroundings are about 15-30 years. If you haven't got kids.

OP posts:
KeepingTrack · 20/06/2021 20:56

Is she registered as their carer (which she is)?

JudgeRindersMinder · 20/06/2021 20:56

Do her family actually appreciate how poor she is?

Kitchendilemmas · 20/06/2021 20:58

If the family aren't prepared to compensate her somehow for the care she's providing (for example, giving her a room in her DM's house) then I can't see she has much choice but to move to Wales

Notaroadrunner · 20/06/2021 20:58

If she's happy to go and try a new start for herself in wales then she should run. What choice does she have if she cannot afford to stay in Edinburgh?

Darbs76 · 20/06/2021 21:01

Whoops I voted incorrectly!!

Iloveacurry · 20/06/2021 21:06

If it’s a permanent home in Wales, perhaps she should take it.

Why should she stick around to help her parents when they don’t help her?

I also wonder if she was so successful before, why didn’t she buy herself a property when she was younger?

HandlebarLadyTash · 20/06/2021 21:18

Would moving in with parents stop her getting benifits?
Certainly if they purchased her a home she would be stuck with the maintenance which it sounds like she couldn't afford.
Carers allowance is not going to help her much financially.
Wales is a long way on the train.

MichelleScarn · 20/06/2021 21:19

Has she applied for any form of social housing other than council? Like Margaret Blackwood?