A woman is desperately trying to raise money to build an annexe for her stricken brother - or he could end up living in an elderly care home aged just 44.
Serene Crutchley, 51, says sibling Gary Crutchley needs to be cared for after suffering a shock stroke in 2020 at the age of 41.
But a lack of supported housing in his area means he has few options, including living with pensioners - which will impact his mental health, it is feared.
NHS worker Serene, from Carmarthen, Wales, is now trying to raise enough money to convert a part of her parents' house for Gary to live in.
She said: "He is on the discharge plan - they’re preparing him for independent living outside of brain rehabilitation.
“Most skills he has now, he can dress himself, walk with a stick and he has a wheelchair for when he gets tired, he’s ready for next step.
“We’ve visited care facilities which have been offered so far and it would have to have curfews, there would be no cooking facilities and 24-hour care.
“It just wouldn’t work as mentally he’s still fully there, he has disabilities and physical and expression difficulties but apart from that he’s pretty much good, there’s no reason he can't live a normal life.”
Gary, who Serene says was previously a fit and healthy man, suffered a stroke in October 2020.
He required brain surgery and was in a coma for three weeks – and had to learn how to walk, eat and speak again in a brain rehabilitation unit.
Having made good progress in his recovery, Gary is now on a discharge plan and is being prepared for independent living outside of the brain rehabilitation unit.
However, due to a lack of appropriate supported housing options, his discharge from the Manchester facility has been delayed.
And Serene says they don’t know how long Gary will be left in the rehabilitation centre.
Gary’s parents are now looking into the possibility of building an annexe next to their home but say they have been affected by restrictions.
The family are expecting to have to raise around £100,000 to provide Gary with an independent yet supported living situation.
They’re working with charity Lets for Life, who help provide housing for disabled people to live independent, happy and connected lives.
Serene said: “He was a really fit man who worked out all the time, he was into camping and cycling and had just started a brand-new job that he’d worked up to for a long time when he had the stroke.
“He’s suffered life-changing disabilities, he’s had speech and language therapy and initially he had to learn how to eat again as well.
“Unfortunately social services are in crisis and there’s nowhere to house him so he’s likely to be stuck in rehab.
“As a family we have become Gary’s financial and media campaigners, we’ve got fundraising going on for him.
“We’re expecting to have to raise £100k.
"I’ll look at taking loans or additional mortgages if I have to, I’ll do anything to help my brother get his independent life back.
“It's just been devastating, the entire situation of him being ill is hard enough – we have to just be positive and think of my brother's future rather than dwell on what's happened.”
For more information on Gary's condition and to donate visit.
