Assisted Living/Attendance Allowance

[Janie1962]

My elderly Mother is considering moving to an Assisted Living complex, but is concerned she'll lose her AA. Can anyone help, please?

[estellyn]

Who will be funding the assisted living place?

[Janie1962]

The Council, as far as I'm aware. She's recently been diagnosed as having vascular dementia and the Social Services carers have suggested she looks into it. It's a County Council-run facility. Thank you, by the way, for helping.

[estellyn]

If it's paid for through adult care services or nhs, then no, aa wouldn't be kept past the first 4 weeks. If it's paid for by housing benefit and sp grant, then aa can be kept.

[**Margaret**]

:Janie1962:

 

So we've narrowed down 'assisted living' (which covers loads of different schemes) to local authority run accommodation. Next question is; retirement/sheltered housing or a residential care home?

 

Retirement/sheltered housing will probably have the services of a warden or a supported living officer, and if it's purpose built may include a communal lounge and laundry facilities. Paid for by an addition to the rent, but doesn't affect attendance allowance.

 

A care home will offer accommodation, clean laundry, meals. And personal care; help with bathing, dressing, supervision for safety, and help with personal paperwork and eating/drinking if required. If your Mum goes into a care home and her place is fully funded by herself with or without help from family/friends, Disability and Carers will continue to pay her attendance allowance. But not carers cos the home will be doing the thirty-five hours a week of caring. Any partial funding from a local authority and attendance allowance will be suspended after twenty-eight days. But subject to time limits and ownership/occupation of a family home by a partner, can be resumed if she spends a 'holiday' or weekends at home.

 

Best wishes, Margaret.

 

 

[Janie1962]

Thank you so much for your replies; unfortunately, another series of strokes at the beginning of May has now taken this option from Mum.