Hi. Ni wondered if anyone might have some experience/advice about applying for a blue badge for their elderly parents? Since each county seems to run their own system, I guess anyone with experience of surrey CC will be the most helpful, but am sure they are relatively similar.
I have put an application in for my father, though really both my parents could probably do with it. They both have been diagnosed with dementia though are still driving (we've notified the DVLA). My dad (aged 87) has to use a stick to walk as his hip gives way regularly with no notice. He's had a couple of nasty falls and we've now put in a stair gate and got them both fall bracelet things through the council. Mum has had a few falls and is unsteady on her feet but doesn't use a stick, so I'm just doing the application in his name.
He finds it hard to get in and out of the chairs, up stairs (both feet to one step before taking the next, pulling up with the rail and stick in the other) but he can walk on the flat - albeit slowly and needing regular breaks.
One of the main issues is the dementia though, as it means I can't just drop him off near the entrance to the shops while I go and park, because he may have wandered off or forgotten where I'll be when I come back to meet him. If we could park near the entrance on yellow lines, or in disabled spaces it would help so much as I wouldn't have to leave him, and he wouldn't have to walk so far. Given he has a stick it's not easy for him to carry much either so each trip is for one or two things at most.
Oh, he also has heart problems so gets breathless too.
I put the application in, with evidence of his attendance allowance along with discharge docs from the hospital after nasty falls, and names of his specialists for the heart and dementia problems.
The council have now come back saying they want a letter from his GP, detailing his mobility. I'm at a bit of a loss.
Anyone know what this entails? It's hard as they seem specific on the mobility part, but even if he's physically able to walk a certain distance on the flat, it's all the things put together. What do I need to ask the GP? Is there specific wording or something that is required to get the blue badge? I looked online and it seems you have to hardly be able to walk at all to get one. But that seems ridiculous - he's an old and frail man with a stick and dodgy hip, heart condition and dementia. He's 87, I'm not trying to dodge the system but it would be great to be able to take him out to more places - but so often you have to park miles away that by the time he's reached the entrance he needs to sit down, and it's not enjoyable.
Just want to do right by him (and my mum) as they aren't able to advocate for themselves and in both cases would try to make out they're fine and perfectly capable as they wouldn't want to cause a fuss or be a burden.