Information for carers of people who are forgetful or confused

Information for carers of people
who are forgetful or confused
April 2014

Admiral Nursing DIRECT helpline

Admiral Nursing DIRECT is a direct access telephone information and support
service for family carers, people with dementia and professionals. It is staffed by
experienced Admiral Nurses. Admiral Nurses are dementia specialist mental health
nurses who work, in the community and other settings, with families affected by
dementia. Admiral Nursing Direct is available Monday to Friday from 9.15am
to 4.45pm. Callers at other times are encouraged to leave a message and an
Admiral Nurse will make contact.

Admiral Nursing DIRECT 0845 257 9406 or direct@dementiauk.org

FINANCIAL

Attendance Allowance
A benefit paid to people who need help with personal care. This includes help
with personal hygiene, supervising someone getting dressed, giving medication or
needing someone to keep an eye on them. It is non means tested and is paid to
the person with dementia. It is paid at two rates; the higher rate is awarded if the
person needs attention during the night. The lower rate is £54.45 and the higher rate
£81.30 per week. Attendance Allowance Forms are available by phoning 0345 605
6055 or 0845 605 6055. Successful claims are backdated to date of call. It is often
easier to get through in the late afternoon.

Disability Living Allowance

A benefit paid to people who need help either with personal care or with mobility or
both. It is not means tested and has been applicable to people under the age of
65. When the person with dementia reached 65 they still stayed on this, and did
not change over to Attendance Allowance. The Higher rate is £81.30, the middle
rates £54.45 and the lower rate £21.55 There may also be a mobility component of
£56.75 or £21.55. There are no current plans to replace Disability Living Allowance
for people aged 65 and over who are already receiving Disability Living Allowance.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

From June 2013 new DLA applications were replaced by Personal Independence
Payment (PIP) for people aged 16-64. Details can be found on www.dwp.gov.uk/
policy/disability/Personal-independence-payment/ The benefit is not means tested
or taxed. People aged 65 or over who are already on DLA will not be effected.

Tel: 0800 917 2222
Details will be taken down on the phone, and then an application form will be sent.
Before phoning you will need the National Insurance Number, date of birth of the
applicant, name of the GP, Bank details and the applicant’s full address.

Council Tax reduction (not means tested)

If a person with dementia receives attendance allowance, disability living allowance
at middle or higher rate, or either of the care components of personal independence
payments (PIP) they are exempt from paying council tax. Therefore if only two
people live in a house the council tax should be reduced by 25%. If the person
lives alone they are exempt from paying council tax. To claim this, telephone the
local Council Tax Department and ask for a form for mental impairment. Proof
of Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance must be provided. Some
carers are not counted for council tax if they are living with and caring for a person
with dementia who is on the higher rate of attendance allowance or disability living
allowance and is not their partner for instance a daughter caring for her mother.

Severe Disability Premium

If a person with dementia lives alone, receives Attendance Allowance and also
receives pension credit, and nobody claims Carers Allowance for looking after them,
they are entitled to this premium. Contact your local Dept of Work and Pensions.

Carer’s Allowance

A benefit paid to the carer of someone in receipt of Attendance Allowance, Disability
Living Allowance, or PIP daily living component. The carer must spend over 35

hours per week caring for someone, and have an earned income of less than £100
per week, once allowable expenses are deducted. For each complete tax year
that C.A. is paid, you will automatically build up a State Second Pension. Because
Carer’s Allowance is an ‘earnings replacement benefit’ you cannot receive it if
you are already in receipt of another ‘earnings replacement benefit’ ie: Incapacity
Benefit, State Retirement Pension etc. or certain parts of employment support
allowance, which is more than the Carer’s Allowance. However if you meet the other
requirements it might still be worth you making a claim as this may entitle you to a
carer premium on income support, also a National Insurance contribution may be
added to your NI record. In some cases the person being cared for may lose some
of their benefits, so it is important to receive advice before making a claim. Carer’s
Allowance is £61.35 per week.

Tel: 0845 608 4321

There is also a new online service 7 days a week which can be used to apply for
carers allowance, and advise of changes in circumstances. https://www.gov.uk/
apply-carers-allowance

Carer’s Credit

Carers caring for a total of 20 hours per week or more will be able to apply for
Carer’s Credit to protect their State pension. This could benefit you if you care for
20 hours or more but miss out on Carer’s Allowance because you don’t care for 35
hours or more. Or if you care for someone who can’t or refuses to claim disability
benefits. It can also apply if you are still providing a lot of care for someone who has
gone into hospital or a care home, but cannot get Carer’s Allowance because they
don’t get disability benefits because they have been in hospital or a care home.

The Carer’s Allowance Unit is on 0845 608 4321.

Benefits Calculator

This is an online calculator, which can be used to see the benefits you or someone
else might be entitled to. www.direct.gov.uk Then click on benefits advisor.

Appointeeship

It may be possible to arrange to have a person’s pension, or benefits made out to
the carer when there is a good reason for this. This can be arranged through the
Dept. of Work and Pensions (Formerly DSS)
www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/agents-appointees-attorneys

Tel: 0845 6060265

Direct Payments/Personal Budget scheme

Direct payments are cash payments given by local authority social service
departments to individuals who need community care services. A person must have
been assessed as needing services to receive a direct payment and the payment
must be used to purchase the services that the person is assessed as needing.
Payments may be made to carers and to people with dementia. Any person who
receives direct payments must be willing and able to manage them alone or with
assistance. A person with dementia or a carer can request a direct payment by
contacting their social services department and asking for an assessment. The
person receiving the direct payment must be assessed as needing the financial help,
as they would be if applying for social services provided care, however for example
if a married woman did not have money in her own right she may be eligible. This
scheme will suit many people, but needs to be considered very carefully so that
budget holders are not overburdened. Details of Personal Budgets can be obtained
from Social Services.

LEGAL

Enduring Power of Attorney and Lasting Power of Attorney

Lasting Power of attorney:

People 18 and over can choose and appoint someone to make their health, welfare
and/or financial decisions if in the future they lack capacity to make these decisions
for themselves. This person is called an Attorney and is appointed by a formal
document called a Lasting Power of Attorney(LPA).

There are two different types of LPA:
• A personal welfare LPA is for decisions about both health and personal welfare,
  such as where to live, day-to-day care or having medical treatment.
• A property and affairs LPA is for decisions about finances, such as selling the
  donor’s house or managing their bank account.

The person making an LPA is called the donor, and they have many choices when
making the LPA.

LPA’s can be made through a solicitor, or a special form can be obtained from the
Office of the Public Guardian, or stationers that provide legal packs. The form will
have guidance on how to complete it and will also explain how the donor can place
limits on what the attorney can do.

A certificate will have to be signed to say that the donor understood what they were
doing when signing the form and that there was no fraud or undue pressure on them
when the LPA was being created.

Before an LPA can be used, it must be registered with the Office of the Public
Guardian.

Tel: 0300 456 0300 There is a fee for registration.

Enduring Power of attorney

From October 1st 2007 people could no longer make an Enduring Power of Attorney
(EPA) however existing EPAs are still valid and can be registered after this date.
If the EPA has not been registered because the donor is still able to make their own
decisions, the donor can: Destroy the EPA and make a finance and property LPA.

•     Keep the EPA for finance decisions
•     In either case make a separate LPA for welfare decisions if they wish to.

If a donor decides to keep the EPA for their finance decisions the attorney can
continue to use it unregistered unless it has been specified that it is only to be used
if they no longer have capacity. If at some future date they are no longer able to
make financial decisions for themselves then the Attorney will need to register the
EPA at that time.

For further information and help please phone 0300 456 0300

Deputyship under the Court of Protection

A Deputy is a person appointed by the Court of Protection to be legally responsible
for someone who lacks capacity to make decisions for themselves where there is no
Enduring or Lasting Power of Attorney. The Court of Protection’s order will set out
the Deputy’s powers. The powers may relate for example to the person’s finances,
property or accommodation (including where they live or whether they go into care),
their medical treatment and other healthcare issues, and their personal welfare. The
powers given depend on the person’s needs. If a decision is complex or difficult, the
Court of Protection recommends that the Deputy takes legal advice. Fees can be
paid from the funds of the person lacking capacity.

For more information please phone 0300 456 4600

When does the NHS pay for care?

This booklet produced by the Alzheimer’s Society offers guidance on eligibility. It
explains what NHS continuing care is, how you might be able to get it, and what
to do if your request is turned down. This can be obtained from the Alzheimer’s
Society or can be downloaded from www.alzheimers.org.uk/nhscare

Driving

There is a responsibility for people with dementia (or their carer) to inform the DVLA
of their diagnosis. The address is Drivers Medical Unit, D6, DVLA, Longview Road,
Swansea SA99 ITU. If they refuse, a medical practitioner may inform the DVLA
directly. The driver’s insurance company should also be informed of the diagnosis.

Tel: 0300 790 6806.

It is usually possible for the Medical Advisory Branch of the DVLA to decide whether
they should be allowed to continue driving from the information provided. It may be
necessary for them to take a free driving test conducted by the Driving Standards
Agency. It may be possible to issue yearly licences, renewed in consultation with the
medical practitioner.

Key for disabled toilets

Useful when taking a person with dementia out, and the carer is a different sex and
therefore cannot go into the toilet with them. This is also available as an App on
a smartphone. Obtainable from RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Rd. ECIV 8AF
Price £4.50

Tel: 020 7250 3222 or e-mail: enquiries@disabilityrightsuk.org

Mindful Gifts

Mindful gifts provides a solution for carers to know what to buy people with dementia
for special occasions such as Christmas and Birthdays. Mindful Gifts sells suitable
gifts and activities that are adult appropriate and provide meaningful activities that
as a positive impact on their well-being. Activities includes: large piece jigsaws,
painting with water, TwiddleMuff, Tangle, MindDice and much more.
Gifts and activities can be purchased from http://www.mindfulgifts.co.uk/

VAT on equipment

Equipment purchased for people with dementia, including incontinence pads,
wheelchairs, commodes etc. are exempt from VAT.

Wheelchairs

If a wheelchair is considered necessary they can be obtained from your GP Practice.

Incontinence Pads

Contact the District Nurse Service for assessment of requirements.

Mailing Preference Service

You can reduce the amount of unsolicited letters and mailings that the person you
care for receives by registering with the Mailing Preference Service.

This is free and you can register on 0845 703 4599

BT Network Controlled Dialling System.

BT can set up a service whereby up to 10 numbers can be dialled but all others are
blocked. A list of numbers for family, friends GP etc that need to be used can be
given, but all other numbers are blocked. For more information go to
www.bt.com/ncc.

To protect anyone you care for from phone scams, you can register with the
Telephone Preference Service., As with the Mail Preference Service, the TPS offers
a free register for individuals who do not wish to receive unsolicited sales and
marketing telephone calls.

Tel: 0845 070 0707

Callblocker

The CPR Call Blocker works on any home phone line, and will block unwanted calls.
www.cprdistribution.com

Free eye test or hearing test in your own home
For all those who cannot visit an optician unattended, including people with
dementia

Tel: 0500 295 245

Blue Badge Scheme

If the person you care for has serious mobility problems or is unsafe to walk
independently because they are confused, they may be able to get a special permit
for easier public parking. Telephone your local Council Offices for details.

There is a blue badge protector which can be purchased from www.thepieguide.
com/shop . This is to protect the badge from being stolen from the car.

Tel: 0207952 0456

Staying Put or Care and Repair

Enables people to remain in their own homes by helping them to repair, improve or
adapt their homes. They also help with benefits and apply for grants to have work
done. Telephone your local Council for details.

Lifeline

Many carers feel safer having a portable alarm that can be worn and is linked to
a 24 hr telephone control centre. If help is needed, such as the carer feels very ill
the control centre can be contacted and they will contact help. Telephone your local
Council for details.

Carer’s Card

It important for carers to carry a card explaining that they have someone with
dementia at home, and that should they be taken ill, or have an accident, help needs
to be sent to look after the person with dementia.

SUPPORT AGENCIES:

VOLUNTARY AND STATUTORY

Social Services

Will assess the needs of people with dementia and their carers. The NICE
guidelines state that ‘health and social care managers should ensure that the rights
of carers to receive an assessment of their needs are upheld.’, therefore carers
should request a carer’s assessment. Social Services can provide a package of
care such as personal care, respite care, meals on wheels telecare and Day Care.
Telephone your local Social Service Department.

Alzheimer’s Society

Provide support to people with all types of dementia and their carers. They provide
Day Care, Support Services, Carers Groups, social events, advice and help with
claiming benefits. If you wish to join, you will receive a monthly newsletter, with
articles about research and developments and interesting tips from other carers.

Tel: 020 7423 3500 or the helpline 0300 222 1122 for details of your local branch, or
for legal matters.

Carers UK
Provide national and local information for all carers. This includes a very useful
handout ‘Your guide to a carer’s assessment www.carersuk.org 0808 808 7777
The Lewy Body Society is exclusively concerned with dementia with Lewy Bodies.
www.lewybody.org 0131 473 2385

Frontotemporal Dementia Support Group (Pick’s Disease) Support, forums and
information contact Penelope Roques 01297 445488 or frontotemp@aol.com

The Parkinson’s UK National Helpline 0808 800 0303

The Cinnamon Trust is a national charity which offers help to elderly people and
their pets 01736 757900

Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances.

This Society offers individual grants for women in financial need, who live alone,
have limited savings, receive pension Credit and are not eligible for help from any
other charity. They also offer small grants to organisations for projects that benefit
women in financial need.

Tel: 0300 3651886

Age UK ( Formed from Age Concern and Help the Aged.)

Provide information and advice, subsidised holidays, competitive insurance, legal/
financial advice and cheaper wills. They also provide some Day Care, and run
Carers groups. In some areas a bathing service is provided.

Tel: 0800 169 6565 for information and advice or details of your local branch.

Carers Trust – Crossroads – The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Crossroads enables you to have a short break from your caring role by providing a
trained carer support worker in the home.

Tel: 0844 800 4361 or e-mail info@carers.org

Samaritans

Provides a 24-hour listening service for anyone feeling life is not worth living, and
feeling they would like to talk to someone.

Tel: 08457 909090 or e-mail jo@samaritans.org

FINDING A CARE HOME

Dementia Champions

A new website which gives detailed information about finding a suitable specialist
care home. There are detailed checklists and in depth information. It is possible to
find the CQC report of homes by putting in the place or post code.
www.dementia-champions.org

Counsel and Care / Independent Age (now merged)

Counsel and Care Provide good information and advice about Homecare, care
homes, NHS Services and other issues. Independent Age focus on social care,
welfare benefits and befriending services. They have very useful factsheets about a
number of subjects such as choosing not to sell a property and possible options.

Tel: 0845 262 1863 or e-mail advice@independentage.org
Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm

Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) Housing Care

An independent charity providing detailed information and advice on all types of
specialist accommodation for older people

Tel: 020 7820 1343 or 0800 377 7070 or visit www.housingcare.org

The Relatives and Residents Association (R&RA)

The R&RA have a helpline for carers of people who have moved into care homes.
They also publish a newsletter.

Tel: 020 7359 8136 or e-mail info@relres.org

Friends of the Elderly

The Supporting Friends service is able to offer grants to assist older people in
financial need, providing essential household items and assisting with utility bills.
Applicants must be aged 60 or more and living in their own home in England or
Wales. Those wishing to apply for help are usually assisted with the application
process by a local organisation.

Tel: 020 7730 8263 for information on Supporting Friends

HOLIDAYS

VITALISE

Organises special holiday weeks for people with dementia and their carers.
Volunteers are on hand to help with caring and allow carers to have a break. Some
financial grants can be arranged. For more information contact: Vitalise, Short
Breaks Booking Team, 212 Business Designs Centre, 52 Upper St., N1 0QH

Tel: 0303 303 0145 or e-mail bookings@vitalise.org.uk

The Mede

The Mede is a holiday home that supports people with dementia and their carer
when they go on holiday. The Mede is a three bedroom bungalow with panoramic
estuary views in Topsham Devon. The owner is a practice nurse and gives them
as much or as little support as they feel they need to relax, rejuvenate and relive
precious memories together. She is also opening a day centre next door, so that the
person with dementia can attend there, to enable the carer to also have a holiday.

Tel: 01392 421189 or 07718 976 072 or e-mail sallie.rutledge@yahoo.co.uk

OTHER INFORMATION

Dementia UK cannot recommend private companies but other carers have told us
that they are happy with the following services.

Frozen Meals Service

Frozen meals can be obtained from Wiltshire Farm Foods

Tel: 0800 773773 or visit www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com

Oakhouse Foods

Tel: 0845 643 2009 or visit www.oakhousefoods.co.uk

Medic Alert

Sells identity bracelets/pendants that can be worn by anybody suffering from a
chronic illness. As well as displaying the wearer’s name the pendant holds a code
which allows authorities such as the police or a hospital to access the wearers
Medic Alert file and gain information regarding his/her medical condition. The name
and addresses of carers, relatives and friends are also held on the computer.

Tel: 01908 951045

Contact4Me

Contact4Me is a personal emergency contact service. The service notifies
members’ loved ones, next of kin within minutes after an emergency occurrence. It
is a simple ID facility which allows members to ‘store’ up to ten emergency contact
numbers on a central database. In an emergency the card a person carries will
give emergency services instant access to essential family and friends’ telephone
numbers and crucial medical alerts. The service costs £16 for the first year £12 for
the second year.

Tel: 0870 389 2299 or e-mail info@contact4me.com

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

HDS-UK

This is a mail order company which sells incontinence wear for both men and
women. They also sell Depend Pants, which are designed for moderate bladder
weakness. They will send samples of sizes and absorbencies before placing an
order.

Tel: 0800 043 0852

Adaptawear.com

Designs, manufactures and sells a wide range of adaptive clothing which are
suitable for people with dementia www.adaptawear.com

Tel: 08456439492

CATALOGUES

Nottingham rehab supplies

A catalogue is available for people with dementia, carers, and residential homes,
which has a wide range of helping aids at value prices including items such as
games, cutlery, alarms to prompt taking medication, talking clocks etc. It can be
obtained from www.nrs-uk.co.uk

Tel: 0845 121 8112

Ways & Means

A dementia care catalogue

Tel: 0845 606 0911

AT Dementia

Provides information on Assistive Technology that can help people with dementia
live more independently. http://www.atdementia.org.uk

Tel: 0116 257 5017

No Rinse Shampoo Caps

Waterless shampoo can be warmed in the microwave, placed on head, massaged
and removed. Ideal for people who are unwell.

Tel: 0844 20 90 888

Assisted Living Clothing

Smart clothes designed to be worn by people who need help in dressing, whilst
preserving their dignity, using buttons, press studs, velcro etc
www.assistedlivingclothing.co.uk

Tel: 07812 574 663

HOMECARE AND HOME NURSING AGENCIES

We cannot recommend agencies, but this is a selection of agencies that other carers
have suggested to us.

Home Instead Senior Care – National Office.

Specialises in non-medical care of older people in their own homes. Anything from
a few hours a day, up to 24 hours 7 days a week. They work with the families http://
www.homeinstead.co.uk

Tel: 01925 730 273

THE Good Caregroup

This agency provide care, support and companionship day and night in the client’s
home, or with flexible timings to suit the clients needs. They can be available for as
little as six hours per day, for a period as short as two months – or on a long term,
live-in basis. Their aim is for quality carers and care.

Tel: 020 7632 5960

SweetTree Care Services

Provides all kinds of care and also activities and support groups

Tel: 020 7624 9944

Consult us about care

Care packages and live in care with carers and nursing services.

Tel: 01732 355231

Draycott Nursing

Professionally qualified nurses and carers. Full or part time.

Tel: 020 7351 7171

Helping Hands

Provide long term live in care, hourly or respite care.

Tel: 0808 252 4184

Pin Point Health Care.

Offers all types of care in the North East, and some parts of Surrey, from live in care,
to escorting someone to the dentist. Minimum call time in one visit is three hours.

Tel: 0191 567 1960

AMG Consultancy Services Ltd.

Nursing care or support. In Midlands and Lincolnshire area.

Tel: 0800 0520163

Christies Care

A domiciliary agency, which specialises in providing live in carers for respite or long
term.

Tel: 0843 289 8803

Oxford Aunts

Provides Live in care.

Tel: 01865 791017

Country Cousins

Short or long term live in care.

Tel: 0800 542 0676

Allied Healthcare

Flexible care including live in care, to meet the needs of the person with dementia,
in Suffolk.

Tel: 01473 826326

USEFUL WEBSITES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Financial Advice

The Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA) is a not for profit organisation which
provides financial advice for older people, and their families and their carers.
SOLLA assists people to find quality and trusted financial advisers involved in the
older client market. To find a SOLLA accredited adviser near you, visit the website
at www.societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk

Eldercare group. Give help in making the right choices about paying for care, they
explain the options you have for paying for care and give guidance and advice about
funding or benefits you may be entitled to.

Tel: 0800 082 1155

Adapted housing for people with disabilities.

Helping vulnerable people maintain their independence. Giving advice about home
improvements and handypersons services. Contact Foundations at
www.foundations.uk.com

Tel: 08458 645210

Care Choices - Directory of care homes & other information.

Aim is to empower people with information to make informed choices, about a
variety of subjects www.caredirections.co.uk

Tel: 0800 3892077

Produced on behalf of the charity Dementia UK by:
Madeline Armstrong, Admiral Nurse

Dementia UK
2nd Floor RFL
356 Holloway Rd
London N7 6PA

020 7697 4000