Is he entitled to attendance allowance

jenniferpa

Tell me about it! When my Mother had what turned out to be her first stroke she was sent home without any treatment at all (sorry, they gave her paracetamol) only to be rushed back to hospital 6 hours later with another one. Even then it took them 6 days to do a scan, by which time she's had a third one!

Jennifer

smartiepants

suzyq wrote:

Another piece of useful information is, some water companies will give you a reduction on your water rates if you are in receipt of this benefit, or on DLA if on the highest rate and you can demonstrate that you need to use more water, due to incontinence, ie such as having to change bedding and wash clothes etc on daily basis.

Thanks but my Father is living in a nursing home, so none of this applies, and we have told that water board that he no longer lives at home, so no water rates are now payable, the same with his council tax, in fact they both sent refunds.

I have contacted the DWP with regard to backdating the claim, a very nice lady is at least passing the details to the correct department, I will let you know if I am successful in my claim for backdated allowance.

smartiepants

Dora_the_Explorer wrote:

Yes it can, but hardly anyone is offered a brain scan because of the difficulty getting the patient to stay still and calm and the likelihood that it's dementia anyway.
I'm afraid that older people are a seriously neglected group when it comes to health care. For instance national guidance on stroke is that people should be scanned within 24 hours of the event, sadly in my local acute health trust if you're over 60 you'll be lucky to get a scan within 24 days.

My Dad was not able to have a scan for these exact reasons, he could not keep still and calm long enough.

I have to admit, that if it wasn't for me being persistant and wanting to know what was happening to him, which drugs he is being given, arguing against some of them and getting the dosage decreased in some cases, because he is an old man, he would just be left, it has made me see that when you get old, the NHS/Government whoever, just won't spend any money on you, I appreciate now that when I get old, I need someone batting on my side, so I am giving my sons full instructions on how to do battle.
It has been a big learning curve for me, and I have had to learn medical terminology, which I am not accustomed to, I have had to learn all about what effect the drugs have and I am sure that I have only touched the tip of the iceberg with it, but at least I am trying, I just wish I could be more effective, and actually wish I had studied more at school to help me in my endeavour to do the best for my Dad who has saved all his life to put a bit by for his retirement, he only retired 3 years ago and now all his savings are going in nursing home fees, another bugbear. Sorry to ramble on a bit, sometimes its nice to get it off your chest. xx

margaretclare

You have to be the ex-President of the United States, then.

I remember seeing Ronald Reagan standing up and announcing to the USA and to the world's media, that he had Alzheimer's. So there must have been a proper diagnosis in his case.

Have a look at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/dementia.shtml

On one of those programmes someone said that until Reagan made that announcement Alzheimer's was barely talked about although it had been discovered 100 years ago. Now it *is* talked about, but it needs proper diagnosis and there are certain tests, not only brain scan. It isn't enough to assume that someone who is elderly and may be a 'bit forgetful', is also demented.

On those programmes there were people who said they had dementia. One mentioned that he had Lewy Body dementia, another man had vascular dementia.

I would certainly not want my relatives told before me - if I'm ever diagnosed with a terminal illness I want to be the person who's told, then I'll decide who else to tell (hopefully, if I'm conscious).

Aunty Margaret

crutches

your dad is very lucky to have such a strong caring daughter.

smartiepants

Thankyou for your lovely words "crutches" it means a lot to me. xxxx