Hi JimB
So pleased we didn't scare you away
I have days when I don't visit TP - just visit when I have a question or feeling curious or for some company or need cheering up - it's brilliant.
Ballykeith has given you some useful links
Whether your mum has a diagnosis or not get onto the Attendance Allowance application straight away - you can send for forms and /or you can sign up and fill in online. I did both - in that I got the paper forms which gave me a good idea of the detail they want, used those to draft out all my comments and then I filled in online, which was much more open so I wrote bullet points and used up every inch of space
Remember to think of everything your mum can no longer do or needs help with ON HER WORST DAYS AND NIGHT. This is not a form to hold back on - it's hard to read back what you write as you will be faced with the stark reality - but I found that very helpful as there was no place left for denial (mine not dad's) and I could then move forward.
You could get help from CAB or Alz Soc etc - they know exactly what phrases will get attention. I did it on my own and was just brutally honest and very detailed.
From what you write you should be applying for full rate ie day and night. And make it very clear that you have been providing a high level of support for many months (years?).
Get the Carer's Allowance forms too and fill them in in parallel so they are ready as soon as AA is granted - but this is only payable if you earn less than £115 a week (I think that's the current amount).
If you have a diagnosis you can contact your council now and ask for any forms to fill in regarding Council Tax rebate (prob 25%) - it may be possible to back date so make sure you tell them the date of diagnosis.
Also contact your local Social Services - ask for a Needs Assessment for your mum and a Carer's Assessment for you. Depending on your mother's (not your) financial situation she may be self funding so you could organise care yourself, now - but the initial assessment will hopefully suggest links to care ie daily care in your home, sitters, a day care centre etc.
My council have a booklet with all these details in, and lots of info on their website.
If you don't yet have a diagnosis - do all this anyway - but also contact your mum's GP. I guess they will have to do a home visit. Write up all your concerns and send to the GP so s/he know what you want investigated and why a home visit is necessary as your mum won't go out. Then she should be referred to the Memory Clinic.
Do you have Financial LPA and Health and Welfare LPA? If not, get these done pronto. Your mum can have these done as long as she has capacity to understand at the moment of signing.
It's a lot to do, but if you work from home you're prob used to organising such stuff for work anyway.
There's loads of info on the various threads, so have a good trawl through.
I introduced a cleaner first to help dad - that wasn't too threatening for him, and he got used to having someone else in the house; they had a nice chat too so he actually enjoyed the company.
And post a photo of the car sat on your driveway!