What actually constitutes full time care activities?

HyacinthBloom

My aunt (68) has been diagnosed with a number of debilitating diseases over the last few months, including severe and basically untreatable liver disease. She's under the care of a few specialists and has, regular appointments with her gp also.

My uncle (70) has had to take over all of her caring and household needs, food preparation, washing, shopping, house cleaning, taking her to medical appointments etc. She has very restricted mobility and cannot stand for more than a very short time without dizziness and has, actually fallen a few times.

We've been trying to persuade him to apply for carer's allowance but he thinks it's just what spouses do for each other. They're well within the means test, so that won't be a problem. He doesn't have to feed her as such, 'just` shop, cook and serve it! She manages toileting on her own but needs help to shower, bathe and dress. Most of what he does is practical rather than direct hands on personal caring but she's not able to do this stuff herself and could not function without him.

Is this actually enough to qualify? We've obtained the application form but I don't want to encourage him to go through the onerous process if it's going to be a lost cause.

Thanks for any help

Sonic the Shaghog

Just the fact he has to assist in showering, bathing and dressing and she has restricted mobility is enough. Get a GP to write a letter with all you've detailed saying she can no longer do it to support.

Now in saying that be prepared to be rejected and having to reapply a 2nd/3rd time even though it's obvious. I'm not sure if they still do it but for a number of years post recession they rejected as many claims as possible to save on costs in the hope people would give up. It was told to me by a TD at the time who personally intervened and got it for 2 people I know even tho their GPs, public health nurses and specialists were bewildered it was rejected given the person's condition.

Apply and don't give up. Best if luck

P.s Sounds like she would easily qualify for Home Care hours too but I'm not sure exactly how many you get before it would effect the carers allowance and also because the pay is so bad and hours cant be reliable there's a shortage of carers.

looksee

Can I just offer another angle. Your uncle says its 'just what spouses do for each other'. Since that is how he feels and if he is able to cope then maybe its too soon to be looking for assistance for them. It may give him a sense of caring for her that means more than the money. Many women in his age group do exactly the same for their husbands and no-one gives it a thought as it is just a continuation f what they have always done. Maybe he wants to have a sense of repaying her care over the years. If he really does not want to pursue it maybe leave it lie for a while.

HyacinthBloom

Thanks to you both for the replies. Very helpful.

I think he's going to go for it, as they could be doing with the money. Hospital trips, parking and other travel costs are really expensive to cover in rural ireland, especially when you're referred to Galway or Dublin and have to stay over.

I don't think there's much, if any, home help available locally either and because he's no spring chicken, he'd really benefit from having a cleaner in at least. He used to do the home maintenance and gardening etc but he just doesn't have the time or energy now.

None of us live near enough to help and he's finding it difficult to cope with everything. It's certainly made me more aware of the effects of infirmity and old age! I'll tell him to keep trying if he's turned down - we can assist him with that anyway.