Wakefield man living with MND has to shower at leisure centre due to unsuitable house
A Wakefield man with a terminal illness cannot have his basic needs met in his inaccessible house.
Sean Riley, 40, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) two years ago.
The degenerative disease means he needs help with movement and most day-to-day tasks.
His bed has been moved downstairs and he can only access two rooms in the private rented house he shares with his wife and two children.
The situation is so severe that he is unable to bathe at home and has to be taken to a local leisure centre to use the facilities.
He is hoping to move into social housing that can be adapted to his needs but has been unsuccessful in bids for numerous Vico Homes, formerly WDH, properties.
He said: "My health has dramatically declined as you can imagine. I can longer wash feed, or walk by myself. I need help with everyday life such as brushing my teeth, assisted walking, eating, using the toilet and even down to using my phone.
"My family around me have and continue to try their best to make my life as comfortable as possible but unfortunately due to our home this isn’t the case.
“We have lived here for 15 years. I worked for the NHS for a long time which I was very passionate about but unfortunately could no longer continue to work there due to my health.
"I have paid taxes my entire life.
“It's been a long 15 months and it's getting harder. The house is so unadaptable.”
A bungalow with a wet room, ramps and doors that could accommodate an electric wheelchair would massively improve his quality of life.
He said: “It would make my life and my wife's life so much easier. At the minute I'm going to swimming baths when I can. I was poorly last so I couldn't go. The basics are the hardest.”
A GoFundMe page was set up to help with additional costs that the family has to deal with.
They have gone from both working full time to being unemployed as a result of the situation.
The family was able to go on a holiday to Egypt before Sean became too ill to travel.
Visit gofundme.com/f/creating-memories-for-sean to donate.