Eligibility for Attendance Allowance

[Pleasemrstweedie]

I'm wondering whether I should try to persuade a friend to apply for Attendance Allowance.

She lives alone and has a plethora of medical diagnoses, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, vertigo and heart failure, as result of a recent heart attack. Her main problem however, is crippling anxiety, added to which she now has specific health anxiety. This prevents her leaving the house most of the time, because she suffers from disabling panic attacks, although sometimes she can go out if someone is with her. She flatly refuses to take any medication for any of her conditions.

She injured her ankle three years ago and has not been upstairs since. She is living in her lounge and sleeping on the sofa. I do not know how she manages to wash etc. I know she is no longer able to do her garden or clean her house properly.

I know we got AA for DMIL, but she had advanced dementia, was incontinent etc, so eligibility was pretty clear. Do you think it would be appropriate to apply in this case?

Thanks

Have a look on the form online and see how she fits in to the questions. It’s a depressing thing for someone to do because you have to focus on what she can’t do rather than what she can do. I can’t see, apart from that, that there’s any harm in applying. Highlight any personal health problems - difficulties in preparing food, personal hygiene, irrational refusal of medicines because of anxiety disorder

if the ankle has gone on for 3 years, is it time for a bed downstairs?

Definitely apply. There are places who will help her with the form too

Is she state pension age? Definitely get help with forms as she must be entitled to other support.

Yes, she's mid seventies añd double yes, she should have converted the front room into a bedroom ages ago, but she just won't help herself

I've just had to this for my 79yr old Dad literally posted the form this morning. It's hard going and Dad found it difficult not only to complete (I did it for him but ran everything passed him) but the focus on what can't be done. It's a lengthy form and has to be completed by hand there is no option to just do it online. I think for sight issues they do offer some additional assistance. I think she should definitely apply given what you have said.