We don’t know what our future will bring and any of us could have an accident, illness, injury or simply become too old and frail to deal with our own financial affairs or care for ourselves.
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.
There are two forms of LPA; one for Property and Finance that you can use for short term and temporary periods when you are incapacitated. The other is Health and Welfare which is used when you have lost mental capacity.
Don’t assume that if you’re married or in a civil partnership, that your spouse would automatically be able to deal with your bank account and pensions, and make decisions about your healthcare, if you lose the ability to do so. This is not the case. Without an LPA, they won’t have the authority.
What would concern you most if you were unable to make decisions for yourself? Would it be where you lived? What you ate? What care and medical treatment you were given? Or would it be: is my money being spent wisely?
How happy would you be for Social Services to make all of the decisions about where you should live or other professionals deciding what medical treatment you should received and your family having no say in the matter?
Having an LPA in place maximises your chances of having your wishes followed in the future. It provides the reassurance of knowing that, if the worst were to happen, you have chosen someone you trust, and knows your wishes, to make these decisions for you. It is not something to be overlooked.
What would concern you most if you were unable to make decisions for yourself? Would it be where you lived? What you ate? What care and medical treatment you were given? Or would it be: is my money being spent wisely?
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