Can my mum claim DLA

sovilla

My mum slipped before christmas and broke her ankle, it was a really bad break and she has already had 2 operations, due for another tomorrow. She has had an external fixater on for the last few weeks and is due to have pins and plates put in tomorrow (thats if they dont cancel for the 6th time)

Anyway she has been told that it will be at least 18 weeks before she can weight bare then will need physio to help her walk again. She is 56 and is currently retired (my father claims pension credits for her)

She cannot look after herself at the moment, my father is having to do everything which is hard because he receives DLA for asbestosis and cant walk very far without being out of breath. I have been going down everyday as she needs constant injections of Fragmin so she doesnt get a DVT with being laid on the couch all day. She cant get up to bed so has been sleeping on the couch. She cant cook herself a meal and my dad doesnt eat much (she has lost 2 stone in the last 4 weeks, although thats probably a good thing as she is a bit overweight) so he isnt feeding her very often.

Im going to look into getting them some home help from the council, or at least meals on wheels but wondered if she would be entitled to DLA. The doctors say it could be a year before she is back on her feet and even then she may not have full movment, plus the chance of getting arthritis in the bones due to the break.

Just wondered what your thoughts were on this. Thanks in advance.

[Deleted User]

sounds like it would be worth her applying

dandelionclock30

I think you need to have had the problem for 3 months and its expected to last another 6 months or so.https://www.gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefit/eligibility.
Bit more info for you there.

Also your Dad can put in for carers allowance if he cares for her over 35 hours per week and if she gets middle rate or high rate care component of the DLA.

If you have any difficulty with filling in forms then ask the CAB to help you complete them.

miduck

No point in applying yet. Whilst it is possible to claim early in anticipation of longer term care needs, that usually only applies to the most serious (and certain) of conditions. See what the docs say about the prognosis in three months, and in the meantime ask for an OT referral.

Be aware that meals on wheels can be very expensive - it varies according to area. Can you not prepare some food for them to heat up?

sovilla

Thanks for your replys. I will leave it for the 3 months then and see how she has improved.

I will try and get some meals done for them but I work fulltime and have 5 kids. Didnt realise meals on wheels would be expensive.

sleepless_saver

sovilla wrote: »

I will try and get some meals done for them but I work fulltime and have 5 kids. Didnt realise meals on wheels would be expensive.

If they are getting income related benefits, they might not have to pay - worth checking.

Mojisola

The Red Cross run a Help From Home scheme which provides some help for the first few weeks after a hospital stay.

I would ask for SS to assess both your Mum and your Dad as his situation is different now he is having to act as a carer. They can arrange short term care which may be free or at a reduced price depending on their income.

xylophone

Could you order some ready prepared meals for the freezer?
This type of thing has been used by family members - I expect there are other similar providers? http://www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/

rogerblack

sovilla wrote: »

(she has lost 2 stone in the last 4 weeks, although thats probably a good thing as she is a bit overweight) so he isnt feeding her very often.

This is absolutely _NOT_ a healthy method of weight loss, and risks dangerous complications, as well as slowing the healing.
2 stone a month is 3 kilos a week.
Or about 24000 calories shortfall a week.

Even if she is very obese (and she must be to lose this amount when sedentary) this is an unsafe and dangerous level of weightloss, except perhaps as a closely monitored program in hospital under constant observation.

When healing, proper nutrition is vitally important, which it is almost certain she is not getting on what is essentially a starvation diet.

If she is not drinking adequately, as seems likely too - this can cause seperate really severe complications.
Contact social services _immediately_ if you can't get this sorted by other means.

fed_up_and_stressed

Definately echo what has been said before they definately need an assessment from the local Social Services Department .. they can also do carers assesments and it may also be worth contacting any local Disability Welfare Organisations or CAB who may be able to advise on what support you may be entitled to and help complete forms etc

dandelionclock30

You can get decent and reasonably priced ready meals from tesco,Iceland,Asda etc. No need to be paying loads of money out.Those Wiltshirefamfoods are expensive in my opinion.