Hi. My mum is suffering from MS and diabetes and she walks with a stick and shopping bag. She is getting worse at walking and keeps falling over and breaking bones and getting bruises. She has seen a nurse who has told ger that she keeps falling over because of lack of sleep. She is now struggling to leave the house for fear of falling. I don’t know what to do to help her as she is a pensioner and is not entitled to any benefits. She can’t afford
to buy or rent a mobility scooter as she is becoming more and more house bound. Àny advice please?
Hi Tania.
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I don’t know what to do to help her as she is a pensioner and is not entitled to any benefits.
For starters , Attendance Allowance … Government web site , full sp :
Attendance Allowance: Overview - GOV.UK
Needs assessment through your local LA … up-to-date ?
The Care Needs Assessment Explained | Age UK
Home care services … what’s available and who provides them :
On the radar of AGE UK ?
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/
( Plenty on that site covering the basics … plus all aspects of care / nursing homes should the need arise. )
MS Society ?
I will assume that CHC / NHS Continuing Healthcare is NOT an element here ???
The above should help you in sorting out your mother’s immediate needs.
As for yourself , any areas we can help with … benefits / housing /support … ?
MS is a progressive disease - it gets worse - your Mum should see her GP - the nurse is almost certainly talking nonsense - Occupational Therapist will deal with whatever equipment you Mum may need.
Being a pensioner doesn’t bar her from receiving benefits.
Mum definitely needs a mobility scooter. I had one before I had my knee replacements, simply life changing. There are good second hand scooters available, choose carefully. Mine was too large to go into the boot of my Land Rover Discovery, but really comfortable. Smaller folding versions fit cars, but may not be so comfy. Why not see if there is a Shopability near you, so mum could see how great it is to go shopping in comfort?
If she claimed Attendance Allowance, and doesn’t have much in the way of savings, she would be entitled to additional disability premiums. Maybe there is a benefits advice service near mum.
When did she last have a Needs Assessment from Social Services?
Forgot to mention … Council Tax disregard / discount ?
How Council Tax works: Discounts for disabled people - GOV.UK