Sorting out your LPA is one way to stay in control after a dementia diagnosis
Today marks the start of Dementia Action Week. According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are currently around 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. As dementia tends to affect people over the age of 65 (although it can also start at a younger age) the number of people affected by dementia is projected to reach nearly 1.6 million by 2040 due to the UK’s ageing population.
This year’s theme for Dementia Action Week is diagnosis, after the Alzheimer’s Society found that dementia diagnosis rates have fallen to a five-year low. The Society found that many people receive a late diagnosis simply out of denial and misinformation about ageing and memory loss. If you or someone close to you is experiencing changes such as significant memory loss, confusion, or language difficulties, it is a good idea to visit your GP for an assessment. More information can be found on the Alzheimer’s Society website.
Taking control of the things that matter
Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a very difficult experience. Not being able to remember things and feelings of confusion can be frightening and isolating for the person affected, and those around them can feel frustrated and worried for the future. Yet the Alzheimer’s Society found that 91% of people affected by dementia still believe it is better to know the diagnosis than not. The sooner you have a diagnosis, the sooner you can take control of the things that matter.
Acting on a dementia diagnosis means making decisions for your future. This includes making arrangements for comfortable and easy daily living, finding resources for staying independent, planning for additional care, and securing your financial and legal situation.
Putting the correct legal tools in place
Although it is daunting, it is important to make your legal arrangements while you still have mental capacity. A dementia diagnosis does not mean that mental capacity is lost, but time is of the essence. Often mental capacity is fluid, and you will have good days and bad days, but if you become unable to make certain decisions for yourself, there may come a time when no one can legally make those decisions for you without the proper legal tools. This can lead to a lengthy and costly process for your loved ones in the Court of Protection.
Lasting Powers of Attorney for people with dementia
The Alzheimer’s Society advises setting up a lasting power of attorney (LPA), which is a legal tool that lets you choose one person or multiple people you trust to be your ‘attorneys’ while you still have mental capacity (which means understanding what an LPA is). When you are no longer able, your attorneys can make decisions for you, depending on how you have appointed them. You can appoint them on a jointly only basis where all must agree, jointly and severally where only one needs to make a decision, or jointly for some decisions and jointly and severally for others. You can also appoint replacement attorneys. There are two different types of LPA: one that deals with your property and financial affairs and one that deals with your health and welfare needs.
The LPA helps you stay in control and stay “you” by ensuring your future is based on your pre-agreed wishes. When making an LPA, you can think about what matters to you, and ensure your wishes and the decisions you want made in the future are clear to your family and those who will be around to look after you.
Deputyship for people with dementia
The LPA is the best and easiest way to guarantee you still get to make decisions about your future. When people are not able to set up an LPA, and later become unable to make their own decisions, no-one else is legally able to make decisions such as paying bills, care costs, and making choices about future care options. In these cases, a family member or carer needs to apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy.
The process of becoming a deputy is expensive, time-consuming, and impersonal, as the deputy is chosen by the court, not by you. The deputy is also responsible for other tasks such as paying an annual fee and submitting an annual report. This means it is usually cheaper and easier for someone to be an attorney rather than a deputy. It is also unusual for a deputy to be appointed to deal with decisions about health and welfare. A deputy is normally only appointed to deal with property and finances, meaning healthcare professionals have the final say on your care.
Our Wills & Probate Team are experienced in helping people diagnosed with dementia and their families through discussions about what to include in an LPA. We understand the importance of making arrangements that put power back into your hands. In addition to LPAs, we can also draft and update wills, support with making advance statements to allow you to refuse certain medical treatments and to express your preferences about your future care. We work to ensure that things that are important to you are not forgotten. If you have any questions about the process, talk to our specialist team today on 0808 271 9413 or request a call back.
This article was originally published on Today’s Wills and Probate.