Blue badge for dementia

[Dementiadaughter]

Hi all we are hoping to apply for a blue badge for my mum who has (early onset) dementia/Alzheimer's.

I've looked online and it says "may" be eligible.

Has anyone got any tips please.

The reason I think we need one is things like she is getting more and more unsteady on her feet and needs someone to support her. She isn't always aware of traffic eg will press button at crossing but then cross without waiting, but a blue badge wouldn't help with this would it?
She can't remember to put her seatbelt on/take it off someone has to do this for her so we could do with a wider space.

Do these sound like valid reasons and how to explain it properly?

Thanks

Yes, they sound reasonable. My grandmother (Alzheimers).and stepdad (vascular dementia) both had blie badges for similar reasons.

We got a badge for Dementia, as we needed to ensure a safe place to park, to be able to ensure that we could keep Mum safe, to help with hospital, therapy, doctors appointments. We needed the extra space of a disabled bay to ensure we could help her swing out of the car, using the full width of the door, as she struggled with movement in situations that she had forgotten or felt unfamiliar and required considerable assistance, hence the need for space. You can also claim for discounts on council tax for dementia https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/financial-and-legal-support/council-tax-discount-for-people-living-with-dementia/ alongside being able to claim back VAT on items like protective bedding, incontinence items, wheelchairs etc., https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/consumer-rights-and-moneysaving-for-disabled-people/ If you've not already done so, please also consider whether you can claim for Attendance Allowance, it is not means tested, but the costs can mount up with travel, laundry, etc.,https://www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/financial-and-legal-support/attendance-allowance/

Thanks we already get AA. Council tax is on the to do list, as it LPOA but that's tricky to get them to agree to it 😞

If she already has dementia, you'll have problems organising an LPA.

We never had a blue badge for MIL, but in the later stages she forgot how to get in and out of the car, and we really could have done with the extra space in order to physically get her seated and her legs in the right place.

If she has dementia, she may be at risk of wandering off, eg if you drop her off then go and park the car.
Re being 'unsteady' - I think the form asks how far she can walk, or how long to walk a distance of eg 200 meters.
If she's poor at judging traffic she's not safe to be left alone.
Think about her on her worst day (she's going to get worse, sadly) when completing the form. If not sure, exaggerate!

She sounds more than eligible. The blue badge form looks a bit daunting but just take it systematically question by question - it's easiest to do it with the person there and at their house so you can check what the question says against what they can do, and dig out useful paperwork/prescriptions. And think of it as them on a bad day, not a good day.

LPA you need to investigate asap as you may still just get away with it, but your window of opportunity is closing. And it may already be too late. If that's the case as long as all her money is in joint accounts or accounts that already have someone else with third party access it will be fine; and as long as your Dad is ok it will be fine. But get your dad's done asap. It makes SO much difference.

Thanks all I've done it so it's just a waiting game now, they said up to 12 weeks for a decision

Update...

Blue badge awarded thanks all!

It's ok to hate this isn't it?

Hi, I was looking at the dementia uk website and maybe get in touch with them? Talking with an experienced person might be helpful for your family.

That was quick

Yes, perfectly ok to hate it.

DF had refused to get one for years, despite being eligible for other reasons. When we finally did, he was thrilled and wished we’d got it earlier. DF, in his more lucid moments would grin and call it his ‘park like a ’ card’ and demand I stop and park anywhere and everywhere for him, just because he could.

We even did drives round London just to see the sights, you can register up to 2 cars for 2/3 years for £10 to be free of congestion charging. He really enjoyed that.

On a far more practical level, if her local
hospital has ANPR parking cameras, register the badge and any cars you use to take her on-line on the hospital parking page. Again usually lasts 2 years