Our mission is to help older people live independently for longer. We do this by helping them access the support that is available.
These funds can make a big difference to people’s lives: whether to improve the home environment, pay for physios or doctors, take taxis to see friends more regularly, or fund the high cost of care.
Arthritis and poor mobility
I have arthritis in my knees and hands. Stairs, shoe laces and getting into a bath are a bit tricky; so my amazing wife does help sometimes. I have had a few small trips going to the loo at night, so I hold onto furniture for balance. I take a walking stick when I go to church or out with the dog.
My Attendance Allowance has paid for equipment that makes my shower and stairs safer to use, and I now do physio once a week for strengthening. This allowance will be worth £85k to me over the next 15 years - I’ll be putting some aside to pay for carers that I might need one day!
Reduction in falls from home modifications / equipment
Hourly cost of private physio
Typical rural taxi costs
Early stages of dementia and occasional falls
This information has been provided by Bethan's daughter.
Mum started getting quite erratic a few years back, but was finally diagnosed with dementia. She is quite frail and had a bad fall that put her in hospital recently; her leg strength has not recovered. We live far away with young children and busy jobs – it’s so hard to support Mum as well.
Care costs are so expensive now, and my Dad’s small private pension meant that Mum apparently had to fully pay for care herself. Receiving Attendance Allowance (and lower Council Tax!) helped us get a stairlift put in at home, and a lovely carer to come round for 2 hours every day to help.
Hourly cost of personal care (at home)
Weekly cost of live-in care (similar cost to nursing homes)
Savings limit for fully self-funded care (with no council funding at all)
Depression and isolation
To the outside world I look “fine”, but behind closed doors I struggle. I often have little motivation to get up in the morning, and only shower 1-2 times a week if I feel up to it. I don’t have much confidence. With little savings, I struggle to live off my State Pension. So I skip meals and don’t go out much.
Life is very expensive in an isolated rural area, but my income has been almost doubled by Pension Credits, Attendance Allowance and other additions. I now take a taxi once a week to go and play cards, and I don’t think twice about putting the heating on. These small things have made my life better.
