LPAs can help protect your interests as dementia figures rise in UK

The government is to launch a 10-Year Plan to tackle dementia following estimates that one million people will be living with the disease in the UK by 2025 and 1.6 million by 2040.

Sharon Crisp, Probate Executive in our Wills, Probate & Inheritance provides an update.

Speaking at the Alzheimer’s Society Conference 2022, Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed the plan will focus on how new medicines and emerging science and technology can be harnessed to improve outcomes for patients across the country.

It will also look at ways to offer greater support for sufferers with their specific health and care needs.

However, the problems created by dementia can be widespread and involve several issues other than just direct medical treatment.

Families may also have to take major decisions for sufferers, relating to finance and welfare. This can be difficult and may require having to go to court to get permission to act of the sufferer’s behalf.

Fortunately, it’s possible for a person to make such arrangements in advance, before they become ill.

Lasting Powers of Attorney enable you take control of your future while you are still healthy by nominating someone you trust such as a family member to act on your behalf if you ever become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself.

The property and finance LPA allows you to appoint someone to look after your financial affairs and the personal welfare LPA lets you grant an attorney authority over such matters as health care and the kind of treatment you receive.

There are safeguards to prevent the system being abused so you can prepare for the possibility of ill health secure in the knowledge that you can leave important decisions in the hands of someone you trust.

If you don’t have such arrangements in place, your family may have to go through complicated and time-consuming legal processes just to get the authority to help run your affairs for you. That can create extra stress at a time when they will already be worried about you and your failing health.

If you would like any advice about Lasting Powers of Attorney and how to prepare for you future please contact Sharon on 01228 514077 or click here to send an email.