Wating times far too long
Waiting lists for suitable housing is often longer than the average life expectancy of people with motor neurone disease (MND), a charity has warned.
People with MND can quickly find themselves losing mobility over a short period of time.
However according to MND Scotland waiting times for suitable housing or alterations were longer than the average life expectancy of someone with the disease.
Lucy Lintott, who lives with MND (pictured), is leading calls for improvements to the housing system after the 27-year-old mum had been told her new accessible home would not be available until next year.
Susan Webster, MND Scotland’s head of policy and campaigns, said: "Speed with MND is key.
"One local authority reported a waiting time of four years for an accessible home, and another reported it could take 15 months, from being added to the waiting list, to having a ramp fitted.
"The average life expectancy of someone with MND is just 18 months."
Lintott, who was diagnosed with MND in 2014, lives in a two-bedroom sheltered accommodation flat in the Elgin area with her partner Tommy and their two young children.
She has been on a list for a three-bedroom accessible home for more than a year.
Lintott said: "I got offered a two-bed bungalow but had to turn it down as it was smaller than my flat and I need a third bedroom for overnight care.
"I have two young kids, who are only going to get bigger and take up more space around the flat. It's just not realistic to stay where I am for much longer."
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: "We know there are issues with the way adaptations are being accessed and delivered locally.
"We are looking at how the process can be streamlined and made easier for people who need adaptations."
They added: "We are also working to increase the supply of accessible and adapted homes, bringing in a new Scottish Accessible Homes standard that all new homes must meet and delivering a programme to retrofit homes in the social rented sector to make them accessible."
