What They Won't Tell You
"It's the over-eighties that kill the over-sixties," said my friend Peter, years ago.
What he meant was that the over-eighties need so much care that they wear out their sons and daughters, who are generally in their sixties.
Fortunately for me, the Communist and my mother had me late in life (and my brother even later) so we are comparatively younger and fitter. But even so, it's very difficult to help the Communist to move about and taking him to the hospital twice last week left me really tired.
If we cared about old people in this country, we'd send them a letter as soon as they reached, say, sixty-five.
"Dear Mrs Boggins
We know that sixty-five is the new forty and you're probably still very fit. However, a time may come when you need a bit of help and here's a leaflet outlining all the help you can get, and money you can claim.
We'll send you an updated version in two years' time, and every two years from then on - but meanwhile, you can always pick one up from your GP - - "
Of course, this doesn't happen, because the Government - whatever Government - is terrified that everyone might claim everything they're entitled to and it would cost a fortune. So it can be really difficult to find out what help is available.
But old people generally aren't out for what they can get - it's hard to get them to claim at all.
If you have an elderly relative who needs care almost all the time, then there is a benefit called Attendance Allowance which isn't means-tested. There's a rate of £43.15 for people who just need care during the day, and a higher rate of £64.50 if they need care at night as well. You can download the form from the website I've linked to. It takes a long time to fill in, but isn't particularly difficult. You can fill it in for someone else, but it really helps if they can sign it.
Usually, you have to have had whatever causes you to need care for six months before you get the allowance - unless you're terminally ill with a form signed by your doctor to say that you're not expected to live more than six months, in which case you can get it straight away. You can spend the money how you like, to get some of the help you need.
The Communist has had his symptoms - ulcers on both legs, walking very difficult - for more than six months, but I hadn't applied before because I didn't know the allowance existed. And who told me? The Communist's GP? No. The Practice Nurse, who's been dressing his leg ulcers for weeks? No. A hospital doctor? No. A different health professional? No. The person who told me was one of the actors whom I work with, who happens to be a qualified social worker - and even she didn't know that the application form was available on the internet.
I filled it in and posted it off and a very nice lady rang me THE NEXT DAY and said that they were awarding the Communist the higher rate, and we should hear this officially in a week's time.
In this country we don't have any kind of system for looking at the patient's circumstances - for realising that if there's an old person living at home, who needs a lot of care, then the most likely main carer is likely to be an equally ancient spouse, or a harassed stressed-out not-that-young son or daughter.
So, if you're in Great Britain and have a relative who's over sixty-five and needs a lot of care, look up the website and claim attendance allowance. It's probable that nobody else will tell you about it ever, so I'm telling you now.
What he meant was that the over-eighties need so much care that they wear out their sons and daughters, who are generally in their sixties.
Fortunately for me, the Communist and my mother had me late in life (and my brother even later) so we are comparatively younger and fitter. But even so, it's very difficult to help the Communist to move about and taking him to the hospital twice last week left me really tired.
If we cared about old people in this country, we'd send them a letter as soon as they reached, say, sixty-five.
"Dear Mrs Boggins
We know that sixty-five is the new forty and you're probably still very fit. However, a time may come when you need a bit of help and here's a leaflet outlining all the help you can get, and money you can claim.
We'll send you an updated version in two years' time, and every two years from then on - but meanwhile, you can always pick one up from your GP - - "
Of course, this doesn't happen, because the Government - whatever Government - is terrified that everyone might claim everything they're entitled to and it would cost a fortune. So it can be really difficult to find out what help is available.
But old people generally aren't out for what they can get - it's hard to get them to claim at all.
If you have an elderly relative who needs care almost all the time, then there is a benefit called Attendance Allowance which isn't means-tested. There's a rate of £43.15 for people who just need care during the day, and a higher rate of £64.50 if they need care at night as well. You can download the form from the website I've linked to. It takes a long time to fill in, but isn't particularly difficult. You can fill it in for someone else, but it really helps if they can sign it.
Usually, you have to have had whatever causes you to need care for six months before you get the allowance - unless you're terminally ill with a form signed by your doctor to say that you're not expected to live more than six months, in which case you can get it straight away. You can spend the money how you like, to get some of the help you need.
The Communist has had his symptoms - ulcers on both legs, walking very difficult - for more than six months, but I hadn't applied before because I didn't know the allowance existed. And who told me? The Communist's GP? No. The Practice Nurse, who's been dressing his leg ulcers for weeks? No. A hospital doctor? No. A different health professional? No. The person who told me was one of the actors whom I work with, who happens to be a qualified social worker - and even she didn't know that the application form was available on the internet.
I filled it in and posted it off and a very nice lady rang me THE NEXT DAY and said that they were awarding the Communist the higher rate, and we should hear this officially in a week's time.
In this country we don't have any kind of system for looking at the patient's circumstances - for realising that if there's an old person living at home, who needs a lot of care, then the most likely main carer is likely to be an equally ancient spouse, or a harassed stressed-out not-that-young son or daughter.
So, if you're in Great Britain and have a relative who's over sixty-five and needs a lot of care, look up the website and claim attendance allowance. It's probable that nobody else will tell you about it ever, so I'm telling you now.
posted by Daphne at 7:37 pm
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