Council 'grasping at straws' to care for one of Scotland's oldest women, age 107

Isa Martin was still looking after her daughter at the age of 104

The family of a 107-year-old woman says a council is "grasping at straws" to provide her with care and has offered an inadequate package of support.

Isa Martin, who is one of Scotland's oldest women, cared for her daughter until she was 104 and lived an active life in Lanark until her health began to decline six months ago.

South Lanarkshire Council initially told her family it could not provide carers for Isa, but put a last-minute plan in place weeks later - after being questioned by the BBC.

It has now apologised "for any upset and worry" the family experienced and arranged for carers to visit twice per day from Thursday.

But Isa's son Alan, who is 73 and is dealing with his own health issues, says the care package does not meet Isa's health needs.

He finds this particularly unfair as he says Isa has saved the state a great deal of money by looking after her daughter, who had polio, for so long.

Isa's son Alan is 73, and has his own health issues

Alan told the BBC that carers will now visit twice a day - once at 10:30 to get Isa out of bed and again at 20:00.

But without any additional help from family, Alan says this would leave Isa immobile for more than 14 hours per day.

He said: "We'll be getting her up in the morning because there's no way she'll be able to stay in bed until 10:30.

"She's living in same house as me, but she's starting to get really bad - her balance is bad, she was absolutely knackered being taken to the toilet.

"This has given the council a wake-up call."

Isa Martin pictured in 1942 - age 24

In her lifetime, Isa has travelled all over the world, including trips to Australia, Canada and Las Vegas.

When her children were young she worked as a cleaner in Stonehouse Hospital, and later in life she worked two days a week in her local pub until the age of 70.

Having seen a decline in her health, she says: "I do need the help now, yes."

Until recently, Isa was helping to care for her own daughter, who developed polio when she was nine months old.

"I had to stop that three years ago," says Isa. She had managed to care for her daughter until the age of 104.

Her family have tried to take on some of that responsibility, but they are now in their seventies.

"I had two operations recently, I told the council we'd be needing help," says her son, Alan, who is 73.

"It's just recently she's becoming frailer," he added.

Isa (centre right) in the arms of her husband on their 50th wedding anniversary

Though Isa has generally kept well, even after her centenary, she is now retaining fluid throughout her body and has to be helped to move frequently to manage the discomfort.

Six weeks ago the family contacted South Lanarkshire Council asking for a care plan to be put in place.

After an assessment, the council confirmed a plan could be provided, but they told the family there was no staffing capacity to deliver it.

"I was just shocked," says Alan. "She's been a carer all her life. Now at this stage, when she's needing it, she can't get it.

"It is simply appalling. I can't help her with toileting and washing, it's not appropriate for me to do it. At her time of life she deserves some dignity."

Prior to Isa's support plan being confirmed, the charity Age Scotland said her case was the most extreme example of someone waiting for care.

Policy director Adam Stachura told BBC Scotland: "She's one of the oldest people I've encountered who is waiting for social care.

"There's this moment at 107 years old where she needs a hand and we're not able to give it to her quick enough. I think that's shocking."

Taken at her 100th birthday - Isa and her sister Lena

Mr Stachura said this was a familiar picture across Scotland.

He said: "This year we found there are a third more people waiting to get a social care assessment in Scotland than the year before.

"We have an ageing population, we have more in need, but we've got shrinking resources and availability for this. We find that people are waiting not just weeks, but months and years to receive necessary care packages."

South Lanarkshire Council's chief officer for social care, Prof Soumen Sengupta, said on Thursday: "While it has taken longer than any of those involved would have wanted, we have now been able to arrange the care that Mrs Martin needs and this has begun today.

"Care at Home services across Scotland are under considerable pressure across Scotland, and that is the case in South Lanarkshire.

"Securing support for those with more complex needs can be particularly challenging in rural areas."

For Isa and Alan, there's a sense that trust has been broken.

"My mum doesn't like to annoy people - she's not a demanding person, which she should be," says Alan. "You've got to ask if she's alright.

"She's had a really good life. We've been able to take her on regular trips away. It's not long ago she was in Torquay, and we had a fun time getting fish and chips, and even a wee half pint of cider.

"But when it comes to this, we just feel like we've been left in limbo."