Full time carer

supermaiden

Looking for help with being a full time carer.
Due to recent circumstances in the family I am becoming full time carer for my father who is in his 80's and has alzheimer's. He requires full time round the clock care as he has many difficulties, one being walking. He requires assistance to get to the bathroom day and night and also to shower. He needs help with making food as he can't do this alone and most of the time doesn't know he has eaten or needs to eat and also taking medication. Im sure people here will know the effects of alzheimers so I will not list them all. Can anyone tell me what help we would be entitled to and point me in the right direction please. Thanks

Indie_Kid

Does he receive attendance allowance (aa) ? Do you care for him for over 35 hours per week and earn less than £100 per week?

supermaiden

sh1305 wrote: »

Does he receive attendance allowance (aa) ? Do you care for him for over 35 hours per week and earn less than £100 per week?

He did receive AA but it got cancelled due to his wife dying. which Im not sure was the correct thing to do. I will be caring for him for over 35 hours day and night but hoping to get actual carers in for some of the time. Currently seeking work so yes I earn under £100pw.

Mojisola

supermaiden wrote: »

He did receive AA but it got cancelled due to his wife dying. which Im not sure was the correct thing to do. I will be caring for him for over 35 hours day and night but hoping to get actual carers in for some of the time. Currently seeking work so yes I earn under £100pw.

I can't understand this bit. There would be no reason for it to be cancelled.

Ask the Pensions Service to visit and help him sort out what he is entitled to claim. They will fill in all the forms for him. Make sure there is someone else with him - people with dementia can't usually answer the questions accurately.

Does he have a social worker and regular appointments with a Memory Clinic? Has an Occupational Therapist assessed him at home to see if there are any adaptions that would help him?

supermaiden

Mojisola wrote: »

I can't understand this bit. There would be no reason for it to be cancelled.

Ask the Pensions Service to visit and help him sort out what he is entitled to claim. They will fill in all the forms for him. Make sure there is someone else with him - people with dementia can't usually answer the questions accurately.

Does he have a social worker and regular appointments with a Memory Clinic? Has an Occupational Therapist assessed him at home to see if there are any adaptions that would help him?

No I didnt think it was the correct thing to do, it was another family member who cancelled it as both he and his wife received it and they thought it was for each other. I know he does attend a memory clinic or has done in the past but only once or twice in a couple of years. He does not have a social worker as far as I am aware. I do not think he has an occupational therapist either but I do know he was giving a walking frame by someone so they may have been the therapist but I have never heard it mentioned and never seen them myself.

Mojisola

supermaiden wrote: »

No I didnt think it was the correct thing to do, it was another family member who cancelled it as both he and his wife received it and they thought it was for each other. I know he does attend a memory clinic or has done in the past but only once or twice in a couple of years. He does not have a social worker as far as I am aware. I do not think he has an occupational therapist either but I do know he was giving a walking frame by someone so they may have been the therapist but I have never heard it mentioned and never seen them myself.

That relative has lost him a lot of money!

Chase up the other things and make sure he is getting all the help he's entitled to.

If he's bad enough to need 24 hour care now, is it going to be practical to care for him at home? You may need to think about residential care, even if it's only for short spells to give yourself a break. Caring for someone with dementia is not easy.

Indie_Kid

Can you contact social services for an assessment for him and one for you?

Benefits_Bod

Based on the info given, this "alert" shouldn't apply in the OP's case. However, it may be useful to others who are considering claiming Carer's Allowance.

Claiming CA can have the effect of reducing the benefits of those who are being cared for. How? Well, it's complicated, so the following is a basic overview only.

If the person being cared for has benefits (such as PC / HB / CTB) containing the "Severe Disability Premium", payment of CA to a third party will usually result in the loss of that "premium" to the person being cared for. That premium is currently worth £53.65 per week.

However, the premium can *sometimes* be retained where there is underlying entitlement to CA, but due to an overlapping benefit, the CA is not actually paid.

Moral of the "alert"? Check before diving in....