Dementia crisis has legal implications for millions of families

The UK is facing a dementia crisis that will have both social care and legal implications for millions of families over the next 20 years.

Our ageing population means that the number of people suffering dementia related diseases is set to double by 2035.

The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that by that time, the number of elderly people caring at home for a loved one with dementia will rise by almost one million.

The problem is so pressing that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is seeking cross party support to find ways to provide more help without getting bogged down in political argument.

As well as offering care, 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.

Please contact Jonathan King/Nigel Gibson-Birch if you would like advice about Lasting Powers of Attorney and preparing for you future.