Lasting Powers of Attorney – Do I need one?

It is a good idea to draft a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney now, so that if mental capacity is lost in the future, as a result of: an accident, dementia, Alzheimer’s, a stroke etc. you have legally given authority to your chosen attorney(s), to make decisions on your behalf.
You may already have a Finance and Property Lasting Power of Attorney in place, which will allow your Attorney(s) to look after financial and property matters, but this will not enable them to make day to day decisions regarding health and welfare matters.  This authority can only be given via a Health and welfare Lasting Power of Attorney document.
A Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney will allow your Attorneys to make decisions such as: where you will live and who with, your day-to-day care, including diet and dress, arrangements for medical, dental or optical treatment, consenting to surgical treatment, arrangements for community care services, your social and leisure activities, who should have access to your personal information, making a complaint about the way you are cared for or treated and your attorney(s) can also give or refuse consent to life sustaining treatment on your behalf if you wish.  
If a Lasting Power of Attorney is not in place, these decisions will not necessarily be made by next of kin, but by medical professionals and Social Services.  In the absence of a Lasting Power of Attorney, any decisions regarding Health and Welfare matters made by next of kin, can be overruled by Social Services.
The majority of people would prefer such decisions be made by friends or relatives, rather than outsiders.
Call Anita Hutt LL.B(Hons) MSWW on 01579 344433 to arrange a home visit.