Mil with Alzheimer's

[ClareDeLune]

Looking for advice here please.

Although we've known for some time, MIL has been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's last week. She has seemed to plummet quickly in terms of how she is managing (lives in sheltered accommodation) with medication/meals/self care etc.

She isn't entitled to any benefits at the moment because her widow's pension is about £3 over the threshold.

Does the diagnosis of Alzheimer's entitle her to any extra help money wise? I know it seems grabby but the memory clinic have advised she needs someone in daily to sort her medication etc but this will come at a cost. Which she can't pay from her pension and neither can we. She has a small amount of savings but this won't pay for a carer for very long.

Any advice? Thanks

Bumping

Contact AGEUk tomorrow. They are amazingly helpful giving this sort of advice.

Also contact the Adult care department at her Local Authority and ask for an assessment. They will organise carers.

Apply for Attendance Allowance. Keep list of all her medications as you will need them when you complete the form.

One of the main things that helped me was to put together a file of every single piece of paper regarding my relative, bank statements, bills, appointments and prescriptions. On the inside of the file I wrote every phone number and contact name for people I was dealing with,

I kid you not, within 6 months I had over 20 phone numbers. LA departments, doctors, hospitals etc.

Finally do a PoA while she still has capacity. You can complete the form online. This will save you so much hassle.

In addition to Florentinas list, look and see if you have a local carers centre - they have been amazing in making sure my parents get everything they are entitled to, and fill out all the forms.

Your MIL should be entitled to the council tax reduction, which is a nice amount of money not to spend out.

Keep note of everyone you speak to and what they tell you. The number of times that things get lost in the system is awful.

Thank you so much.

We have poa already should we need it.

I am going to try and sort this all at half term when I'm off for a period of time. I've downloaded the form for attendance allowance and I'll start going through that tomorrow.

I spoke to the memory clinic who said that she'd have to pay for someone to help her with meds. If I contact the adult care dept at the council, is this the same people? And she'd still have to pay? Or different people? (Ime speaking to different depts gives different advice!).

So so grateful for this, we really don't know where to start.

Carers are paid for either by LA or the person. Sometimes part and part. The income will be assessed. Just because she does not get benefit, does not mean she won't get financial help,with her carers. The LA assessment needs to be done immediately, as the payments only start once the request is assessed. It may be that they cannot get to MiL until half term any way..

Hopefully the attendance allowance will cover any contribution she makes. I don't think attendance allowance counts as her income, but AGEUK will help with this info.

We also made some laminate sheets to remind Mum to certain things.

for example on the back door - Turn lock to right every night. This helped in the early stages.

Thank you.

She's been assessed for short term care today, and they are sending carers in to help with meds. Will sort the rest out when school finishes and I get a few clear days.

Many thanks for all your help.

Attendance allowance is not means tested and she definitely should qualify, at least for the lower band. I got it for my Dad, it wasn't that hard, just had to take a couple of hours out to fill in the form, and get his GP to sign.
She should also be entitled to a 25% discount on her council tax (maybe more actually if she lives alone, my Dad got 25% off but he lives with my brother- just ring the counci's council tax dept they should be able to help).If I remember properly to get the council tax discount you need to be in receipt of AA or one of a few other benefits such as DLA.
In terms of getting care at home/ help with various needs that should be assessed by social services. It will be means tested and they will use savings of £23000 as the threshold. If she has more she would have to pay for carers herself, less and SS would have to provide help. Ask for a SS assessment- you can just ring them directly.
Good luck and post again if you need more advice and support.