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PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments

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2 years 8 months ago #270866 by magdelena
Replied by magdelena on topic PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments
I really appreciate your answer. Bless his heart but he can’t do much of anything anymore. He does experience the confusions that you speak of and more besides. I do pretty much everything for him and have done for a long time. He tries ever so hard to do things for himself but he just can’t. What with Parkinson’s and MCI he’s really struggling.

I’m taking your advice to step back a little, at least mentally, to note the problems he has.

I’m guessing it’s also right to mention how utterly exhausted he gets. Because Parkinson’s leads to loss in motor function, much of the therapy he receives focuses on using different strategies mindfully and consciously to compensate (such as having to concentrate on walking, or speaking. Things we do automatically). The MCI means there is a diminishment in his ability to apply these therapeutic exercises so the Parkinson’s takes a greater hold. It’s a vicious circle. The tiredness knocks him sideways and then he has even less resources to cope.

Thank you ever so much for your input.
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2 years 8 months ago #270879 by Gary
Replied by Gary on topic PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments
Hi magdelena

When a decision maker uses the term "You had a mild impairment with cognition, insight, intellect and memory however you were able to understand the assessment process well.” to me it shows their ignorance on the subject matter, it is also a standard copy and paste answer we come across often.

You need to show that it is not mild from the supporting documents you sent in, you may also want to look up the condition on google and quote what you find especially the prognosis if it helps your case.

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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2 years 8 months ago #270882 by Gary
Replied by Gary on topic PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments
Hi magdelena

I would keep a day diary about how his condition affects him and what help you have to give on a day to day basis. These diaries do have a lot of weight at a tribunal, if you look in the PIP tab you will find template diaries or you can make your own.

Unfortunately with Parkinson it can be a very debilitating condition and the prognosis is not good, you may be able to get quotes from the parkinson web site to quote.

A person with Parkinson's disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms.

These include:

~ depression and anxiety
~ balance problems (this may increase the chances of a fall)
~ loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
~ problems sleeping (insomnia)
~ memory problems

There is no cure, treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and maintain quality of life for as long as possible.
www.parkinsons.org.uk

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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2 years 8 months ago #270897 by magdelena
Replied by magdelena on topic PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments
Thanks Gary,

They are woefully ignorant. Getting a diagnosis of dementia or MCI is a long drawn out process. My mum passed recently and it took almost four years for her mixed dementia to be diagnosed. To think you can determine anything from a casual observation (unless you are a professional in that field) is simply ridiculous. But we have to deal with the situation as we find it.

Can you clarify what CSE stands for in this quote from the health professional? I’m guessing it’s Cognitive State Examination. I’m aware IO stands for Informal Observation.

“FME supports condition, IOs/CSE showed mild impairment to cognition however he showed good insight and cognition overall”

I have found and printed out supporting/explanatory pages from the NHS England website pdf on dementia, the ACE 111, Parkinson’s dementia and the medication he takes. I also have a couple of pages from The Parkinson’s Foundation on Parkinson’s dementia. I’m going to do the same for the diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Thanks for your help so far.

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2 years 8 months ago #270898 by magdelena
Replied by magdelena on topic PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments
Thanks again Gary.

My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 14 years ago so these progressions are expected and as you say, part of the prognosis. I’ll certainly find some supporting quotes from Parkinson’s websites and add these to the medical evidence.

I’m in the process of compiling a diary using a template I found on Scope but I’ll certainly look at the PIP tab you mention. I’m also including a Carer’s letter.

Thanks for the link too.

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2 years 7 months ago #270921 by Gary
Replied by Gary on topic PIP Review and Cognitive Impairments
Hi magdelena

You normally find the acronyms either on the front page in inside the front cover.

What I usually find helpful is getting quotes from specialist websites such as Parkinson's or OCD Action especially if a condition is quite rare, I can remember a time when fibromyalgia was not hear of, now I hear it all the time, unfortunately it is one of these conditions that varies from claimant to claimant.

Gary

Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: magdelena

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