Attendance Allowance - Too soon?

[Stumblingsideways]

My Dad 80, has Alzheimer's, he received the formal diagnosis last August. At the memory clinic they gave me information to apply for Attendance allowance, although I haven't done so yet as I'm not sure whether he is bad enough to warrant it.
He still lives alone, and can just about manage with help from cleaner/gardener and my sister and I. He is able to potter to the local shops every day to get a paper and a ready meal and can cook the ready meal himself in microwave. He can get himself to a lunch club just down the road.

He manages by having a non-varying routine, he writes reminders, and my sister or I call him daily to check he knows what he needs to do that day and has taken his various medications.
He is very forgetful though, but it so far seems to be declining slowly. He also has started wearing my late mother's clothes and other women's clothing he's purchased from charity shops.

In terms of care needs we installed a elderly bath/shower to avoid falls but he can get in/out himself, and we need to remove out of date food from his fridge as he's made himself sick on several occasions.

Does it sound too soon to apply for AA?

Not too soon, focus on the things he can't do and needs help with (even if he doesn't receive it) rather than what he can do. The process is much easier than PIP.

For example Dad has an adapted bath to avoid falls and needs prompting to use this rather than dad can get in and out of the bath by himself.

Keep a copy of the form you submit to help with future applications and send it recorded delivery - it's amazing how many applications get lost (!)

Have a look at A1 benefits on fb they have free guides to help with filling in the form.

Not too soon. They backdate the award to the date you apply and it's a long old thing - you have to complete a list of all the medications he takes, get his NI number, the GP's details, a list of conditions etc etc.

Even if you don't submit it yet, make a start. He may decline rapidly and it's good to have that money there if you need to get in emergency carers.

Oh thank you! The money will be helpful for him but also the council won't accept council tax exemption application until we have AA and his council tax is eye wateringly expensive.

Better crack on with the form then..

Tha AA is to pay for things like the cleaner and gardener. Also to compensate you for and petrol cost etc if you have to shop for him or take him to appointments so definitely not too soon.

remember that a need which is met is still a need. Include everything he couldn’t do if he didn’t have the adapted bath and you yo keep a check on use by dates,andall the other little changes made to allow him to cope