Advice RE Respite care

Spoonie_Turtle

Idpullthecurtain said:

teddysmum said:

It hasn't been mentioned, but the mother does have AA or DLA ?

Sorry to ask a silly question, but what are they?  TIA

AA = Attendance Allowance (can only be claimed by pensioners)
DLA = Disability Living Allowance
Both non means-tested disability benefits

elsien

Attendance allowance or disability living allowance.
You can’t make a new claim for DLA after the age of 65 so that’s when attendance allowance kicks in instead for new claims. 

beanielou

Idpullthecurtain said:

teddysmum said:

It hasn't been mentioned, but the mother does have AA or DLA ?

Sorry to ask a silly question, but what are they?  TIA

Disability Living Allowance 
Attendance Allowance. 

Savvy_Sue

AA = Attendance Allowance. Cannot be claimed earlier than state pension age. 2 rates: the higher if the person needs attention at night as well as during the day. No mobility component.

DLA = Disabled Living Allowance. Could not be claimed after state pension age, now superceded by PIP = Personal Independence Payment. 

Sorry, I cross-posted before reading messages above. I defer to those more informed than me: the cut-off point between AA and DLA may be 65 rather than state pension age.

Spoonie_Turtle

Savvy_Sue said:

Sorry, I cross-posted before reading messages above. I defer to those more informed than me: the cut-off point between AA and DLA may be 65 rather than state pension age.

Gov.uk says it's State Pension Age
https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/eligibility

MouldyOldDough

My wife has been my carer for 23 years without a single days break - is she entitled to a break with myself going in to respite care - even for a week or two ?

Surely - there MUST be national rules as to who pays for Respite care ?

The problem being that all of our local care homes appear to be set up for elderly rather than disabled

One of them actually stating "STRICTLY OVER 65's ONLY"

I am just 61 years old !

elsien

MouldyOldDough said:

My wife has been my carer for 23 years without a single days break - is she entitled to a break with myself going in to respite care - even for a week or two ?

Surely - there MUST be national rules as to who pays for Respite care ?

The problem being that all of our local care homes appear to be set up for elderly rather than disabled

One of them actually stating "STRICTLY OVER 65's ONLY"

I am just 61 years old !

Because that’s what they’re registered for.  

Different care homes are registered for different client groups and different ages with CQC. If they are only registered for people over 65 then legally they cannot take anyone younger than that. 

Judicial review has shown that resources can be a relevant factor when looking at how eligible needs are met, and that will vary between local authorities.
The Social care system is broken, but everyone wants to keep their money to hand down to their kids and create like merry hell  if there’s any suggestion of changing it so it’s the system we’ve got. Any decisions are going to be unpopular and there hasn’t been the political will there to deal with it. 

DerektheDonkey

elsien said:

MouldyOldDough said:

My wife has been my carer for 23 years without a single days break - is she entitled to a break with myself going in to respite care - even for a week or two ?

Surely - there MUST be national rules as to who pays for Respite care ?

The problem being that all of our local care homes appear to be set up for elderly rather than disabled

One of them actually stating "STRICTLY OVER 65's ONLY"

I am just 61 years old !

Because that’s what they’re registered for.  

Different care homes are registered for different client groups and different ages with CQC. If they are only registered for people over 65 then legally they cannot take anyone younger than that. 

That may well be the case but there has always been instances where respite, or longer, stays have occured outside of a client group or client age and yet no enforcement or legal action has been taken.
I can point to a Physical Disability home in which persons living with Mental Health issues have had prolonged respite stays. The staff group without any relevant training and the care plan orders for a MH social worker to be contacted. Not during Covid either.
Needs must.

Savvy_Sue

MouldyOldDough said:

My wife has been my carer for 23 years without a single days break - is she entitled to a break with myself going in to respite care - even for a week or two ?

Surely - there MUST be national rules as to who pays for Respite care ?

The problem being that all of our local care homes appear to be set up for elderly rather than disabled

One of them actually stating "STRICTLY OVER 65's ONLY"

I am just 61 years old !

On a practical level, your wife needs to ask for a Carer's Assessment from Social Services and specifically ask about respite care. Until the need is identified, nothing will happen.

MouldyOldDough

But not - if there's nowhere for me to stay ?