Margaret’s story: the value of independence

15 January 2020

Margaret Northrop was leading a fit and healthy life until, one day, she began to experience crippling back pain.

After undergoing scans at her local hospital, Margaret was told she had lesions on her spine and that surgery was not a viable option as she would not survive it.

“When you’re disabled life can be hard, especially when you have been a person who was fit and could do most things, like decorating, gardening, all sorts of things. As well as the lesions on my spine, I have also been diagnosed with arthritis and osteoporosis and living with these health conditions have affected my daily tasks in every way you can imagine.”

Margaret now spends most of her days either sitting or lying down, but is lucky to have her daughter who often helps out, especially when it comes to Margaret’s personal hygiene routine.

“My Mangar Bathing Cushion is wonderful – I’d not been able to bathe for more than a year until I bought this from Complete Care Shop.”

The true cost of living with a disability

As Margaret’s health has deteriorated, she has become more aware of just how valuable being independent can be as the costs of hiring others to help around the house, or travel to different places, have started to build.

“Being disabled is very expensive – when you have to pay for a mobility scooter, bath lift, someone to do your gardening, ironing, cleaning, window cleaning, taxi's, an adjustable bed, special mattress, someone to do your shopping; for all this I pay out over £240 per month, that I can hardly afford but have to have.”

Although Margaret knows that certain mobility goods can be expensive, there are some products which have enabled her to stay more independent and live a more comfortable life.

“I can now go out alone on my mobility scooter, I get more sleep having an adjustable bed, oh, and best of all is my Manger Bathing Cushion bath lift, I love a bath every day! All these things have helped me a lot.”

We’re happy to hear that Margaret now has all the equipment she needs to help her stay more independent at home, and we wish her all the best for the future.