Thursday 8 October 2015

Attendance Allowance

A friend suggested I should apply for this.  I have never claimed a benefit in my life other than child benefit many years ago.

She also said it would help towards the  payment of the cleaner and gardener we now employ.  The cleaner comes once a week and goes through the part of the house we inhabit like a dose of salts.  The 'gardener' comes when he can and before the grass needs a scythe.

So I down loaded the form and the advice on how to fill it in

Which you need.  Never ever have I come across a form which is so unuser friendly.  But I persevered.  Then I became so severely depressed with the stuff I could not do and required an attendant to help me with I almost added suicidal to the list. As it made me think of all the things I could not do but got round.....one just does doesnt one.  Bright light I bought a golfing peaked cap. This cuts out glare from above. The sky. I can still draw and paint, drive, use the computer. 
 I make sure I am facing the person I am speaking to and listening to.
No good on the phone tho!

COPD
Osteo arthritis
Cataracts
Loss of hearing.
Hypertension.

One just copes doesnt one.

Help with dressing/undressing.  I cannot do buttons so I dont wear anything that has buttons.  I cant do zips.  So I 'forget' they are there and wear a baggy jumper. Osteo Arthritis (OA)

I cannot open jars, bottles, cans.  So I do not eat or drink anything from them.  Fortunately wine bottles I can manage....(OA)

Cooking smells make me choke.  I do not cook. (COPD)

I need the zimmer to walk anywhere, shops, doctors, etc.(COPD)

Thats if I can get in as still so many shops including my opticians do not cater for those in wheel chairs or with wheeled zimmers.

I cannot read small print.  So food labels , drug labels and instructions I just chance it.(Cataracts.C.)

Make up?  God knows what I look like after the morning plaster on of. (C)

Still managing the loo.  Shower, I like to have someone around but can manage on my own so long as they are in ear shot if I fall over the bath edge getting out, or cannot turn it off.
(C & OA)

And so it goes on.

And on and on.

If I were a dog or a cat I would be down the vets and now planted under a tree.

The attendance allowance is mainly about personal care.  Which I had not really addressed.  One just bumbles along.  Adapts. When one has to fill a form in and focus on what one can no longer do it is horrific.

My sight. The optician can no longer prescribe glasses so I am on the waiting list for the operation for cataracts. Fortunately I passed the part that says I can still drive.

Hearing.  Not much of a problem for me but drives every0ne else mad as I have to ask them to repeat , repeat, repeat.  Now on another waiting list for an audiometrist (?).

Osteo arthritis.  No cure. Progressive. 

Hypertension Controlled by drugs.  

Sense of humour just gets me in to trouble So for now has disappeared. May be back blogging but not for a while. 

Bear with me. Apologies. But thats why we blog. Letting it all out.





7 comments:

Terra said...

I think it is great you are unburdening here. I am aging too and can relate. I got hearing aids several years ago and they made a world of difference, in a good way. I hope you get / continue to get that additional help in your home.

Lilly's Mom said...

Hello.I hate to fill out forms too. I hope you can receive some help. Although you are dealing with some health issues, you still have your art. You can escape to a different world through your artistic adventures. I wish you the best.

rusty duck said...

Some of us appreciate your sense of humour. And as I have often said, if you don't laugh you would cry. Don't be away too long.

Anonymous said...

You have all my sympathy. When you have to itemise all the help you need, or another person needs, it can be overwhelming. I think that life just involves helping others, as well as times of needing help. Imagine if we had to fill out forms itemising all the help our children needed as they grew up! (No doubt this will soon be coming.)

It's not the reality. As Lilly's Mom says, you have your art, and goodness knows you have your sense of humour.

Take care, Jill! I often think of you and send you my good wishes. Xox

BadPenny said...

Form filling can be so frustrating. It's great that among other things you have the Blogging community and your wonderful views, a lovely home & your art. Take care xx

BadPenny said...

How are you Jill ? xx

justjill said...

Thanks all. Since my last blog post I have been ill and still am. But hey ho. Lots of pills and Lucozade. Back soon - I hope.