Is any accommodation support available?

Caring for & supporting a loved one
1

My 25 year old son Sam was recently my diagnosed with T Cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). I’m his dad, currently at home and supporting Sam’s siblings/dealing with anything which needs to be sorted out, whilst my wife is with Sam at the hospital. We need to be with Sam at this time and expect to take turns of staying near the hospital for the next few weeks, maybe the next few months, we will find out more soon.

I’m looking at hotels, airbnbs and so on, looking for places which are suited to isolating ourselves to reduce the risk of catching anything which would prevent us from visiting.

I wondered if any organisations might support our situation, practically/financially perhaps? I’d be grateful for any advice.

Thank you

Barry

3 Likes
2

Hi @barryn and a warm welcome to the forum.

I’m sorry to read about your son’s diagnosis. It must be incredibly difficult for you, your wife and family.

I was in for a Bone Marrow Transplant in Glasgow April 2025. The hospital I was in was 250 miles from home so my wife needed to stay somewhere that would allow her to safely isolate.

She went for an Airbnb in the end that was in an area she knew and at the same time enabled her to walk each day to and from the hospital.

We self funded the cost. However what I would suggest is the following:

  1. Speak to a MacMillan Benefits Advisor. There are benefits out there that aren’t means tested such as PIP or here in Scotland ADP (Adult Disability Payment)
  2. You could also ask if there are specific grants that you could apply for that might help at least cover some of the costs
  3. Ask at the hospital if there are any accommodation options available on the hospital site. They’re not common these days but if hospital covers a big geographical and potentially rural areas that may be an option.
  4. If you, your wife, son or any family members are members of any professional associations they have benevolent funds that you can apply for. I’m an accountant by profession and I know that they have this option for members.
  5. Depending how public you want to be about your son’s situation things like Go Fund Me pages can be an option if you and family felt okay with that.
  6. I’m not qualified to give financial advice. That said I know that sometimes people can arrange payment holidays from things like mortgages if you have one. Citizens Advice might be able to help in that area.

Hopefully that provides some ideas Barry and hopefully some others on the forum might be able to suggest things I haven’t.

Take care and best wishes to you and your family.

6 Likes
3

Hello @barryn

Thank you so much for your post.

We are so incredibly sorry to hear about your son’s diagnosis of T-Cell ALL. We can only imagine what a shock this must have been for you and the whole family and how difficult this time must be.

Please know that you can call us on 0808 2080 888 if you would like to talk through any of this with a member of our support team. You can also email us at support@bloodcancer.org.uk

I can see that @DuncanB has replied with some amazing information and we would echo all of the great suggestions he has provided, especially speaking to the team as usually the clinical nurse specialists would be able to provide further information about local accommodation/ what usually happens for patients in similar situations. As you mentioned the hospital often allow one person to stay and may have bigger rooms for patients with family members staying with sofa beds/ mattresses etc.

To add some additional information, in case it is useful:

Young Lives vs Cancer may be able to help, they have a page on A free place to stay - Young Lives vs Cancer Homes from Home and Financial support - Young Lives vs Cancer.

Depending on where you are located there may also be a Maggie’s centre nearby. They offer a range of support, including 1:1’s and group sessions. You can usually pop into these centres for advice without an appointment and they can also provide guidance on financial situations - Benefits and cancer | Maggie’s

As well as these pages, Macmillan have further links on their page that may be helpful - Teenagers and young adults affected by cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support.

We also have pages on money and work which includes working or studying with blood cancer, information about benefits and financial support - Blood cancer: money and work | Blood Cancer UK.

Although it states that the service is currently closed to new applications, it still may be helpful to know about Leukaemia care’s cost of living fund, just in case this reopens or if you wanted to contact someone at their organisation to see if they can help with any financial support - Cost of Living Fund | £175 Grant for Leukaemia, MPN and MDS Patients - Leukaemia Care.

Lastly our colleagues at Cancer Research UK also have a page that may be useful regarding benefits - What Cancer Benefits Can I Claim? | Coping practically |Cancer Research UK.

Do keep your son’s treating team updated.

Take care & warmest wishes,

Emma (Support services nurse)

7 Likes
4

Brilliant post @Emma_BloodCancerUK

Covers so many options so thank you for sharing all these links.

I’m sure it will be helpful to many of us on the forum

7 Likes
5
2 Likes
6

Gosh, I just checked back to find these wonderful replies. That’s a lot of very useful information, thank you all so much for your support and kindness, it’s so fantastic to have found you here.

Best wishes,

Barry

4 Likes