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Elderly parents
Original poster

Attendance Allowance

44 replies

Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 11:22

Its been recommened that I post on this thread as I wonder if Dads at the stage he can start to claim AA. We have POAs applied for and they are in process as they take few months.

We lost Mum suddenly a year ago and she supported Dad a lot. Since then he hs lived alone with me visiting from 100 miles away as often s possible and calling at least once daily. The help needed in the past 6 months has been:

Food - he cannot cook. He can make cereal breakfast but his meals are ready meals uing the most basic microwave. I have to write the cooking instructions on a label on front of packet as the amount on information on the back confuses him.

Drink - he only drinks water (by choice)

Medication - we have created an online account for this and I request repeats for him monthly. He also has devices he needs to use - I call them and order monthly. These companies then contact his GP for a prescription and send items to him. I remind him they are coming in my phone calls and he lets me know when they have arrived.

Communication - he struggles to be understood on the telephone. This has been noted by his hospital consultant and by a local charity that take him out one day a fortnight. They have both been given/asked for my contact details so they can speak to me when they get problems. He never remembers names now but does describe people accurately so I tend to know who he means.

Time keeping - he is only on time for things if he is picked up. Otherwise he seems to wake up and just go. He missed buses and so only goes on the local charity bus now whch collects him and missed social events because he has turned up at 8.30 whne the session starts at 11. He books early medical appointments and then when he is "early" it doesnt matter so much. We have bought the large faced digital clock with the time and day and morning/afternoon on it although he says its a "lot of information".

Post - I have to help him with all of his post now. If its something urgent - like a doctors appointment - I tend to visit soon after to check he has understood it correctly. He needs help with his bills and paying them.

TV - he only watches TV on his laptop and struggles to enter passwords to access his TV subscription accounts. He rings me twice a week minimum needing me to dial into his computer and talk him through logging in.

Social - he doesnt go to many things and Ive stopped encourging him unless he is being picked up because of the problems Ive had to deal with from my home, 100 miles away, when he turns up at the wrong time.

Mobile - he has never managed to work a mobile phone - he carries it with him everywhere but never uses it.

Medical - he has quite a bit of medication for various things - he is in his 80s. I think he has prostate cancer although he doesnt have any meds for this. I am now going to his appointments with him and travelling up as I don't undertstand what is going on and he cannot communicate it clearly to me. He suffers from repeated issues with his indwelling catheter and has needed A and E/urgent care/district nurses to be called 3 times in recent weeks. He has fallen once and stumbles occassionally.

Id like to be able to arrange for him to have some help to aid him staying independent and wondered if he could claim some AA to enable him too.

Any advice would ne great, thanks

Do we have to ask his doctor for a special form?

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 15/05/2023 12:18

Hi

short term - have you asked Adult Social Care in his area to assess him, they might be able to help quicker?

re AA generally
Mum gets AA for similar
Best advice I can give
Call 0800 731 0122, ask for a large print form

If the claim is granted, it will be backdated to the date of your call, so better to do this than print it or do it online.

They were very helpful.

There's lots of info around saying "you need help with the form". Everyone's different but we found it was not hard - long, boring, probably designed to put people off, but not hard.

Also some say "fill it in as if it's a worst day". We didn't do that. We filled in an average day. Mum got a call about two months later and truthfully said some things had improved since filling it in. She still got it. I think they talked to her doctor, you have to fill in details of the GP.

Hope he gets it.

Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 13:02

No I haven't asked anyone.

Dad wants me to go with him to this week's blood test so I.can see if he would like us to approach ASC to see if they can help and their view on whether he will qualify..if he wants to then hopefully we can get the contact details from.the surgery

Thanks

OP posts:
Winterisalmostover · 15/05/2023 13:08

If you word the answers in the form carefully, I'm sure he'll get it. He obviously needs help and has medical conditions.

EmmaEmerald · 15/05/2023 14:59

OP I noticed you have mentioned the surgery a couple of times

ours would just tell us to google the number. If you have time before you take your dad to his appointment, I'd just ring and get into the system.

Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 15:18

I tried to speak to the surgery a fortnight ago and they refused. Annoying for two reasons -

1 because Dad signed a letter at same time as Mum last May (because we did it 4 days before we lost Mum I was able to give her the exact date) those letters said the surgery could talk to me - the receptionist reckoned the letters might have been put on mum's file only so wouldn't help other than "sending a message to his gp with my number"..he's not called me. And

2 it meant to be sure I had to travel up to see him quicker than planned. Not the end of the world as its lovely seeing him of course, but we've definitely got a red flag here that he needs support in place.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 15:34

I've rang the number and we have a large print form on its way

OP posts:
Jitterybugs · 15/05/2023 15:37

I’ve read elsewhere that Age Concern give very helpful advice on how to go about completing an attendance allowance application.

EmmaEmerald · 15/05/2023 15:37

Oh, I just meant ring Adult Social Care direct, sorry that wasn't clear. Don't bother with the surgery.

Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 17:04

Ahh OK

I'm going up to Dad's for four days soon - for the dates when he has the appointments which I'm.going to with him.and hopefully the paperwork will have arrived.

I'll try and get these conversations started then.

I ought to be able to complete the paperwork although I'll need the doctors help to explain what illnesses Dad has as I don't know the history of his medications as they don't appear to me to be related to the illnesses I know he has.

I know more about his daily struggles and can help with that.

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 15/05/2023 18:59

The form looks at difficulties with personal care. Washing, dressing, get himself into and out of bed, moving around the house, up and down stairs and falls risk. It doesn't look at whether he can cook a meal. there is a section on help with communication needs - talking on the phone, ability to deal with forms and letters etc. If you can support what you are saying on the form with medical evidence then that is good - so A&E report saying his catheter has been blocked, hospital letters, ask GP surgery for a patient access summary report which will list his recent GP visits, medications etc. I would put down about his catheter needing attention in the medications and therapy section, and that he required district Nurse to change it regularly, flush it etc to keep it patent. There is a section to put down any aids and adaptions such as raised toilet seat, walk in shower, dossette box, anything which helps make life easier for him. I complete these forms multiple times a week and they rarely get refused especially if accompanied by relevant medical evidence. They rarely do any kind of assessment. Good luck.

Babyroobs · 15/05/2023 19:03

EmmaEmerald · 15/05/2023 12:18

Hi

short term - have you asked Adult Social Care in his area to assess him, they might be able to help quicker?

re AA generally
Mum gets AA for similar
Best advice I can give
Call 0800 731 0122, ask for a large print form

If the claim is granted, it will be backdated to the date of your call, so better to do this than print it or do it online.

They were very helpful.

There's lots of info around saying "you need help with the form". Everyone's different but we found it was not hard - long, boring, probably designed to put people off, but not hard.

Also some say "fill it in as if it's a worst day". We didn't do that. We filled in an average day. Mum got a call about two months later and truthfully said some things had improved since filling it in. She still got it. I think they talked to her doctor, you have to fill in details of the GP.

Hope he gets it.

Correct - you don't fill it in as a worst day. There are 2 blank pages at the back where applicants can explain in detail if things are variable. They seem to have a very low threshold for awarding it. I think I have had about 5 turned down out of 200 in the past year or so !!

defnotadomesticgoddess · 15/05/2023 19:17

Just adding you may want to think about getting a power of attorney in place both for financial and health & welfare.

thesandwich · 15/05/2023 19:25

The surgery should have a form to complete so you can access his medical records on line as well as speak to them- I needed two different forms.
then you can print off details of meds etc.

Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 19:30

@defnotadomesticgoddess

Thanks. The POAs are in process. Our own have just been completed by the OPG and Dad's were sent in two weeks after, once my brother had signed. So we should get the official paperwork for him through soon too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 19:34

@thesandwich

Thanks I know his medication and prescribed catheter devices as I order them for him (I've done this since Mum passed) but I.dont know what specific conditions he has that require them.

I will ask for these forms.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 19:44

Thanks. If they do decide to assess then the call might be a problem because he was almost scammed and then didn't sleep for days so he doesn't answer anyone that doesn't come up with a bookmarked name. Perhaps I should put that in the notes ? Ask.them.to contact me to arrange the call.time and then I can prime him and he will be ready to answer. In many ways a call would be good as they will easily understand his issues in communicating then.

Dad's not really variable. He's getting noticeably worse over time.

OP posts:
MereDintofPandiculation · 15/05/2023 20:18

Remember “a need that is met is still a need” so think of all the problems he would have if there were no-one to support them. Think all the adaptations he makes and the needs behind them.

Babyroobs · 15/05/2023 20:43

Stepbystep100 · 15/05/2023 19:44

Thanks. If they do decide to assess then the call might be a problem because he was almost scammed and then didn't sleep for days so he doesn't answer anyone that doesn't come up with a bookmarked name. Perhaps I should put that in the notes ? Ask.them.to contact me to arrange the call.time and then I can prime him and he will be ready to answer. In many ways a call would be good as they will easily understand his issues in communicating then.

Dad's not really variable. He's getting noticeably worse over time.

Put your name down as the contact person on the front sheet and explain on the form that he would struggle with a phone call, so ask them to speak to you instead. There is also a section which you can complete to say what care/ support you give to him. In my experience they rarely ring people unless they can't decide between awarding the lower or higher rate and if they just need to clarify a few things.

papaver · 15/05/2023 20:58

My parents had help from citizen's advice with the form. Might be worth asking if you have a local one.

EmmaEmerald · 15/05/2023 22:27

Babyroobs "It doesn't look at whether he can cook a meal."

i included it as part of question 33 where it asks if you'd like to give more info about any food issues.

this is the form if you'd like to look in advance OP.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1143363/aa1-interactive-claim-form.pdf

HamBone · 15/05/2023 22:38

Adult Social Care and Age UK were v. helpful when my Dad (85) applied last year. It sounds as if my Dad more medical conditions than yours, poor mobility, and he’s registered disabled so he was an a very obvious candidate for AA, poor man.

Don't quote me, but I was told that continence is considered a major issue so your Dad’s problems with his catheter will probably make him eligible. Not sure about lack of cooking skills, etc. My Dad has Meals on Wheels and they’re surprisingly good! Have you considered them?

MereDintofPandiculation · 16/05/2023 08:42

My Dad has Meals on Wheels and they’re surprisingly good! Have you considered them? They’re not available everywhere but it’s worth asking

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 16/05/2023 08:47

your Dad seems to need quite a bit of help - does he have dementia?

Original poster
Stepbystep100 · 16/05/2023 15:41

Meals on wheels - not heard of any in his area they seem to recommend using companies like Wiltshire Farm Foods. They are frozen meals and similar to what he eats. He does have their brochure to.look at if he fancies a change and they would deliver to him. He goes out once a week with friends for lunch. I've also.just found another fortnightly trip available during the spring and summer that picks up at his house which includes a trip.out and lunch.for a reasonable cost. Just waiting on the list of where they go to arrive and then I'll see if it's of interest to.him

OP posts:
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