Home care

Mojisola

Sterlingtimes said:

My mother has an accumulation of disorders: severe macular degeneration, a fix hip fracture, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation and postoperative cognitive decline. I wonder whether that would hit the Attendance Allowance threshold.

As Skibunny says - it's the need that has to there for six months, not having care in place for six months.
With that range of problems, she's likely been in need for some time but do get help filling in the forms.

pollypenny

Age Concern are marvellous. Consult them and I'm sure you'll find that one of their workers will complete the AA forms for your mother. 

Her circumstances are identical to those of my aunt some years ago. 

Sterlingtimes

Skibunny40 said:

You mentioned your mum has macular degeneration - is she classed as partially sighted, or severely partially sighted? That alone should qualify her for AA (at least lower rate and most likely higher if she is severely partially sighted). She doesn't need to have had care for six months before she qualifies, just that she's had the conditions that would require care for six months - I think, it's been a few years since I was doing this.

It's worth contacting either the macular society or a local charity that helps with benefit application forms as there's a specific way to fill out the form to ensure she gets approved

Thank you. This is so helpful at this time. I rather feel that my mother has not reached the stage where she would be certified as having lost her sight. She tells people that she is "totally blind" which is inaccurate. In prior years she was operated on for glaucoma in both eyes. But for about seven years, she has experienced macular degeneration. One eye is so bad that it is beyond treatment. For the other eye, she receives injections into the eye about once a month. She can read a large print book slowly and for a short time.

She now has a combination of adverse illnesses.

Sterlingtimes

Mojisola said:

Sterlingtimes said:

My mother has an accumulation of disorders: severe macular degeneration, a fix hip fracture, pulmonary embolism, atrial fibrillation and postoperative cognitive decline. I wonder whether that would hit the Attendance Allowance threshold.

As Skibunny says - it's the need that has to there for six months, not having care in place for six months.
With that range of problems, she's likely been in need for some time but do get help filling in the forms.

Thank you. Before her recent fall, she was managing well. She could even play scrabble and win. I see a serious mental decline that others may not notice. A social worker is visiting next week.

Sterlingtimes

pollypenny said:

Age Concern are marvellous. Consult them and I'm sure you'll find that one of their workers will complete the AA forms for your mother. 

Her circumstances are identical to those of my aunt some years ago. 

That is a good call from someone who understands the issue. Thank you. 

in_my_wellies

I feel for you OP, it's a fast learning curve.

My mum lives with me and not a day goes by when there isn't a phone call/ emergency/ visit by an agency to deal with. 

Have you been told that it's 4 weeks NHS funded care? My mother is in a similar situation. 

I was told 4 weeks during which time an assessment would be carried out and that she would have to pay from the day after the assessment. However, when the council came to do the assessment I was told that the Government changed the rules on 1st July and the 'free NHS' care was only for one week. She was assessed on 14th July so the payments were backdated to the 1st.  As I was continuing with the same care people I accepted it but if I had intended to put other arrangements in place I would have been a bit miffed!

Mum is self funded. The council gave various options but their package worked out the cheapest by about £2 per hour. The council do charge a £6/month admin fee but this also means I can ring them if any problem arises with the agency and I don't want to contact them directly. 

Re Attendance Allowance, Age UK were fantastic helping complete the forms. She was able to write much more detail than I would have thought of and mum got the higher rate from the start. Also, apply for the forms online today. The claim is then backdated to todays date, not the date you return the forms (info correct when I applied)

Sterlingtimes

in_my_wellies said:

I feel for you OP, it's a fast learning curve.

My mum lives with me and not a day goes by when there isn't a phone call/ emergency/ visit by an agency to deal with. 

Have you been told that it's 4 weeks NHS funded care? My mother is in a similar situation. 

I was told 4 weeks during which time an assessment would be carried out and that she would have to pay from the day after the assessment. However, when the council came to do the assessment I was told that the Government changed the rules on 1st July and the 'free NHS' care was only for one week. She was assessed on 14th July so the payments were backdated to the 1st.  As I was continuing with the same care people I accepted it but if I had intended to put other arrangements in place I would have been a bit miffed!

Mum is self funded. The council gave various options but their package worked out the cheapest by about £2 per hour. The council do charge a £6/month admin fee but this also means I can ring them if any problem arises with the agency and I don't want to contact them directly. 

Re Attendance Allowance, Age UK were fantastic helping complete the forms. She was able to write much more detail than I would have thought of and mum got the higher rate from the start. Also, apply for the forms online today. The claim is then backdated to todays date, not the date you return the forms (info correct when I applied)

Thank you very much. I had not imagined that care would be funded for less than four weeks. The letter reads as follows:

"Social care services are chargeable services but during the response period to Covid-19 funding has been made available to fully fund the cost of new or increased (additional element only) out-of-hospital health and social care support services for a period of up to 4 weeks.  This is to enable long-term plans to be put into place."

Now I am more worried.

My mother is 'phoning me perpetually to tell me that her carers are late in attending even where they are well within the timescale. Today, she is again in a state of apparent delirium. 

I appear to be a little behind you, but it is like restarting a full-time job for now.

Your comment on Attendance Allowance is most helpful.

Savvy_Sue

I don't wish to be too pessimistic, but you might want to consider for how long this situation is sustainable, and whether, realistically, residential care might be needed. If it is, IMO the sooner you are able to arrange this, the better - the more capable your mother will be of engaging in the process, and the activities on offer when she arrives. 

But has anyone checked for a urinary tract infection? that can cause quite serious confusion.

elsien

I’d second checking for a UTI. That can make people incredibly confused very quickly. 

Sterlingtimes

Savvy_Sue said:

I don't wish to be too pessimistic, but you might want to consider for how long this situation is sustainable, and whether, realistically, residential care might be needed. If it is, IMO the sooner you are able to arrange this, the better - the more capable your mother will be of engaging in the process, and the activities on offer when she arrives. 

But has anyone checked for a urinary tract infection? that can cause quite serious confusion.

Thank you. I will discuss UTI with the GP when he calls for the first time post-fall tomorrow.

My mother is firmly resistant to residential care. She appears to be very lucid with outside callers. A social worker is also planning to call tomorrow. I will try to reassess the situation when all professionals have called.