Advice regards care for elderly parent

Mistermeaner

Apologies if not in correct forum, will move if needs be but this looked best place

Post is regards my father, age 87, diagnosed with heart failure and probably not long to live. He also has osteoporosis, several fractured vertebrae and a host of other medical conditions plus takes all manner of pills for his heart, pain mgt etc. His blood pressure is in his boots, he is weazing / breathless all the time and in and out of hospital but refuses to go into a home of any sort

Things have reached the point that me and my partner (plus neighbours who have been helping) can't really do what is required to care for him. We have spoken with a district nurse who recommends we apply to the council for care support but that could take months so thinks we should look to sort a few things privately.

He alreday has a cleaner and gardner so that is OK

The things we were specifically looking at is:

- In home carer, to visit once a day for a few hours and help with light medical care (dressings/creams etc.) but primarily things like cooking, washing. shopping and a bit of company. We don't mind paying private so we're going to contact a few local agencies - any advice on this appreciated

- A life aid emergency contact/fall detection system. Was looking at this one recommended by age uk https://personalalarms.ageco.co.uk/pages/gps-fall-detector-alarm  - its the best version with speak/listen via the pendant as would not be confident in a base speaker version. Any thoughts comments / recommendations?

- We have been told to look at applying for attendance allowance. My understanding is that this is not means tested and my dad would likely qualify?

Is there anything else we should be applying for or any government / NHS / council bodies we should be registering him with to get support at home?

If it makes a difference i don't think he will qualify for any means tested benefits as he owns his own home outright, has several 100K in the bank and has full state pension plus DB pensions (ex teacher). He lives in Cheshire

Misslayed

The type of care you describe is exactly what Attendance Allowance is intended for. It is not means tested. From what you have written, he is very likely to be granted the upper level, which is currently £101.75 a week. The form to apply is arduous, but there is a lot of advice available online - what to include, useful phrases etc.  If you ring the DWP and ask for the forms to be sent, the award will be backdated to the day you rang. I applied recently and it took 5 weeks to be approved. You can apply on his behalf, or just do the secretarial work filling the form in and collecting evidence (appointment letters, copy of prescriptions, hospital discharge notes - nothing needs to be specially collected)

KxMx

The Marriages and Families board might be the best place to get answers from those that have been through the same situation. 

Alice_Holt

Attendance Allowance is not means tested.
It is concerned with help, assistance, and supervision required for personal care needs, so looks at getting in / out of bed / washing . dressing / toileting /  moving safely around the house, getting out of chairs, etc.
The higher rate is paid if care and supervision is needed both during the day and during the night.

It is not concerned with cooking. shopping, gardening, etc only personal care needs.

Age UK's AA guide and factsheet .is worth reading

As is Citizens Advice's Adviceguide to completing the form:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/claiming-attendance-allowance/help-with-attendance-allowance-form/

The key is to fully explain the difficulties your father has with the personal care needs listed on the form, add addituional sheets and make it very clear to the DWP decision maker reading the form the help, assistance, and supervision & overseeing  (for his safety) needed. 
It is concerned with the care needed not just the care received. 
To get the night time award care is needed 2/3 times a night for a total of 20/30 mins  - for instance going to the toilet safely.