Care needs for mum

Nottsdoglover

I have arranged for an OT assessment which seems to be the starting point.

Mum is mobile at home in fits and starts and she has a frame. She heats up meals we take up. Me and my daughters take turns in making up meals she can just reheat. I do all her shopping and her neighbours are very good too. They have keys in case of emergency.

MrToad thank you for those pointers i will think about them.

fed_up_and_stressed

Good luck hope it goes well.

Nottsdoglover

The OT is visiting next Thurs, so i hope we might get some help in the near future.

One of my daughters is waiting to go into hosp with womens probs so it isn't fair on her to be going as much as she does at present. She won't be told though.

pmlindyloo

Is your mum claiming Attendance Allowance?

This is not means tested and is based on her care needs.

Have a google for the descriptors.

This extra money would help to pay for 'extras'.

See here:

https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/overview

Nottsdoglover

No, she is very proud and i suppose she thinks that she isn't paying us for looking out for her and we wouldn't take any money so why would she claim.

I will mention it tho, she could use it to get a taxi to a friends when we are at work or things like that i suppose.

margaretclare

I can't emphasise too strongly, she should claim AA because this is money she's already paid for, in her taxes over a lifetime (make sure she absorbs this!) and it would make a huge difference to her quality of life.

It's all very well 'being proud'. It does you no favours in the long-term. This is not scrounging or charity - it's money which can make a big difference. If you have BBC iPlayer or similar, watch today's 'Saints and Scroungers' from this morning. There was a man on there saying what a difference it had made to him. Also have a look at the Papworth Trust http://www.papworth.org.uk/

HTH

Mr_Toad

margaretclare wrote: »

I can't emphasise too strongly, she should claim AA because this is money she's already paid for, in her taxes over a lifetime (make sure she absorbs this!) and it would make a huge difference to her quality of life.

It's all very well 'being proud'. It does you no favours in the long-term. This is not scrounging or charity - it's money which can make a big difference. If you have BBC iPlayer or similar, watch today's 'Saints and Scroungers' from this morning. There was a man on there saying what a difference it had made to him. Also have a look at the Papworth Trust http://www.papworth.org.uk/

HTH

I agree with this.

My parents had similar views about claiming but as unfortunate as it is there is a culture withing the NHS and Social Services that take the view that if you're not claiming benefits like AA then it must be because you're not entitled to it and and if you're not entitled to AA then you're not entitled to much help.

As you can see this is a circular argument but, and this is the important thing. If you're in receipt of AA then someone else has done the legwork in granting it therefore, there must be a need, therefore, you must be entitled to help..............

Also when it comes to help there is a price in the form of a financial contribution and this is calculated on the basis of pension, income, saving and any benefits you may be entitled to whether you're claiming them or not.

Social Services are busy and they really do like it when other departments do some of the work. While getting help will be possible it will take longer and be more trouble, I know because I went through it for Dad. When Mum started to show signs of dementia I was better informed and things went really quickly as one of the first questions they often ask is "Is the person concerned claiming any benefits?"

Nottsdoglover

Thank you, yes, mum has worked most of her life, as did my Dad. I have mentioned it to her but she got a bit upset saying she doesn't want to do anything wrong and she is not that bad. I think i will ask the OT to bring it up she might take it better from her/him.

My sister tried earlier this year to get her to claim it but she has to leave it because mum got upset.