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How to deal with diabetes while living in a squat?

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bob123

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Advice please .My next door neighbor (Male age 40/Type 1 insulin controlled diabetes/Manual farm worker/living in essentially a squat/learning difficulties) has collapsed twice in the last few weeks his sister who he lives with is literally suicidal with worry.I have a limited knowledge through my job of emergency treatment and administered 'Hypo stop(I purchased some after he collapsed last time)sublingually yesterday to bring him back around while calling for an ambulance .Essentially the authorities will appear and fix the immediate problem and then go again.The trouble is essentially his diet is toast/coca cola due to lack of useable kitchen .From what I've read control of his diet is critical but almost impossible in his position.His job/poor accommodation is dependant I presume on his ability to drive so I want to limit involvement of his employer(the farm)/social services who would I assume, be compelled to act on his ability to hold a driving license.I can provide help in the form of freezer/microwave etc. and even a quick cookery lesson ,but is a freezer full of ready meals going to help?My job has me out of the country for several weeks at a time and I'm keen not to be seen as some interfering busy body and equally keen not to make his situation any worse by endangering his livelihood on the farm.Any thoughts,anyone been in a similar position?
 
You are obviously a concerned neighbour :) If only there were more, vulnerable people would be a lot safer. However, your knowledge of his circumstances is very patchy and I don't think you are going to be able to get to the bottom of it and then give the help needed or wanted :?

Often people are taken to a busy A&E, get patched up and discharged, no one really digs deep enough to find out what the underlying problems are.

If he is driving and sometimes lapsing in to unconsciousness the serious safety issues trump his employment needs. And if he is working on a farm - there are lots of serious safety concerns in working with chemicals, heavy machinery and large and potentially dangerous animals.

You are clearly very concerned and want to help, but I don't think you can offer the help that he needs. Someone who is in this kind of state usually needs a lot more than a cookery lesson and access to a microwave. The sister is struggling already from what you say.

If he is working he is clearly not in decent/adequate housing. Could he be being exploited by a landlord or by an employer? I don't know what you mean by "learning difficulties". From what you say there are also issues for his sister/carer who is struggling to cope. This chap is struggling to look after himself and there seem to be issues of neglect. You paint a picture of a fairly worrying situation.

I think you need to make contact with your local social services department and say you are very concerned about a "vulnerable adult" and be very clear about why you are worried, don't hold back on your worries - people die in hypos. They will have to investigate and get to grips with the things you are worried about and they have the power to do this properly. They may even know the person concerned already.

I think this needs a proper assessment that will look at any concerns around exploitation, neglect and safety and the support the sister needs to look after her brother. Asking social services to find out what is going on could help them to find decent housing, claim benefits if needed and get him, and his sister, the help they need to live independently.

There is a lot of support available and it is usually provided in a very discrete way. Social services are in the best place to get this ball rolling after you have talked to them.
 
Sounds like this guy would definitely qualify for council housing...
 
You cannot help this guy much unless he asks for help. You might be able to discuss things a bit with the sister, if you just go and offer help.
 
Thanks everyone for your responses -especially Spiral.The answer is obviously not going to be black and white .Your thoughts still welcome ,and pulling in help from elsewhere I think is the next step.
 
You are right, this isn't an easy situation to resolve :? It needs skilled professional intervention.

Patch - you can't say that it sounds like someone would definately qualify for council housing :? That kind of judgement is dependent on an assessment by a Housing Officer, which would look at a very wide range of circumstances including their finances, local connections and how they came to be in their current housing (are they "deliberately homeless"?). If they are eligible for council help with housing, it depends on how the local council provides that help. In some cases, this is by helping someone find suitable accomodation in the private rented sector, as my own local council does.

Hana is right, sometimes offers of help are refused :( It is very frustrating. The sister is struggling as well and I think the best help would be provided by involving social services - there are skilled professionals used to working with this kind of difficult situation. Having caring and interested neighbours makes this difficult job much easier :)
 
Please contact Social Services as any outside help you need will be left with you co-ordinating it all as he/sister are clearly not coping

If you tell them your concerns they wont need to let on it was you if you wish, and they can assist with practical things (house clean, new house, cooking facilities, delivery of meals, etc etc)

They will (if they are any good) make contact with all health professionals who should be involved in his case and they will only intervene as much as he lets them- there are statutory grounds to intervene but not to compel him to do anything.

I cant believe health profs arent doing more if he is vulnerable - where is their duty to care? Surely his Doc must get the reports from the hospital and realise he is an unstable diabetic. A bit of education from a Nurse (ie NO FULL SUGAR COKE) for both he and his sister might help, someone to monitor his hba1c, assessment of his capability etc etc.

I agree with the driving issues though - there is no way he should be involved in machinery/driving. If his employer is nice (bearing in mind Dis Discrimination covers Diabetes) then he could perhaps get other work on the farm until things are sorted.

Good on you for caring, but you cant unravel a life times worth of difficulties for this family.
 
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