Financial lifeline bringing hope for carers

Feb 19 2008 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

JOHN George, 79, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in September 2003.

The former budget controller at Procter and Gamble, Newcastle, is now looked after at home by wife Margaret, 67, a former teacher at Holycross Primary School in Howden, North Shields, and a professional care team.

Margaret and John were married in English Martyrs Church, Cowgate, Newcastle, on June 13, 1959. They have seven children and live in Westerhope, Newcastle.

Margaret says being able to be paid to take on some of John’s care would be a good idea.

She explains: “I feel I could do half of the care work for John and when John was in the earlier stage of his illness that would have been particularly good.

“Initially I wanted to help him, particularly with the hoist, which I’d been shown how to do but I was told I couldn’t help one carer. Instead there needed to be two carers for insurance reasons.

“I can’t be a carer in the sense I can’t work with the caring team, I found that very frustrating because I wanted to be involved with John’s care.”

Margaret says when John was in the earlier stages of his illness, she was the only person who would be able to help him change and attend to personal duties.

“He would get very distressed if anyone else had to do any of that.

“John lives here and he is comfortable with me being around. If I’m not, he often asks where I am.

“The carer’s attendance is a very small amount and being paid to take on some more of the caring would be a good idea.

“I find it frustrating I can’t do some things.”

Because Margaret is retired, John’s care is paid for out of his pension and a small carer’s allowance of £258 a month. John’s weekly care bill is £120 a week, and soon to be £150, and the local authority pays £73 of that. It doesn’t go very far.

“I had to fill in a lot of forms to get my carer’s allowance,” Margaret points out, “but luckily the Alzheimer’s Society helped me to fill that in.”

Margaret does have some respite, however, as John now doesn’t mind other carers, although he prefers it when Margaret is around.

“I look after John five days a week but we have a very good caring team at the moment .

“My daughter is also very good at coming around which means things don’t get on top of us.”

For more information, contact the Alzheimer’s Helpline on Monday to Friday 8.30am-6.30pm on 0845 300-0336, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk, email info@alzheimers.org.uk or write to Alzheimer’s Society, Gordon House, 10 Greencoat Place, London, SW1P 1PH.