Dementia is affecting more peoples lives than ever before, so make sure you are ready to deal with those important decisions

With Dementia Action Week approaching, Gail Hall (right) of Warners Solicitors offers some advice on how to help someone suffering from the disease when they are unable to make important decisions anymore

During Dementia Action Week (21-27 May) The Alzheimer’s Society is asking everyone across the country to unite against dementia. Dementia is set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer. Awareness and understanding remains low and many families are facing it alone. With this is mind, we are looking at how you can make sure your affairs are looked after by the people you choose.

When someone becomes unable to make decisions for themselves one way of dealing with this is for a family member, a friend or a professional Deputy to apply to the Court of Protection for what is called a Deputyship Order. In these circumstances, the court will consider the application and will appoint someone to act on behalf of the person in question as a Deputy.

The whole process of applying to be a Deputy can be quite lengthy with various forms to complete along with the need to provide an assessment of capacity. The assessment of capacity is completed by the donor’s doctor. All in all, as well as being a costly process, it can also take several months to complete. This may cause problems if decisions need to be made and be effected quickly, such as the sale of a property.

After a Deputy has been appointed, there will be on-going supervision fees, insurance and the need for a Deputy to submit an annual report.

A way of avoiding this process is for you to plan ahead and make lasting powers of attorney (LPAs). Attorneys appointed under an LPA do not have to submit annual reports to the court for assessment although keeping records is advisable. No general ongoing fees would be payable in the general administration of your affairs.

Making LPAs also means that you are able to choose and authorise exactly who you would like to act on your behalf in making the various decisions in the event that you lose the mental capacity to make them yourself. This could save your relatives or friends the worry and potential disagreements on deciding who should apply to be a Deputy.

There are two types of LPA. One deals with property and financial affairs and the other deals with health and welfare.

A property and financial affairs LPA gives the attorney the power to make decisions about financial and property matters including selling a house, managing a bank account, selling and buying shares and investments.

A health and welfare LPA gives the attorney the power to make decisions about health and personal welfare such as day to day care, medical treatment and where someone should live.

While creating and registering LPAs may seem costly now, it is a cheaper alternative in the long term by avoiding the initial and on-going costs that are part and parcel of the Deputyship Order process.

For more information contact Gail Hall on 01732 770660, or email: g.hall@warners.law

www.warners-solicitors.co.uk