If you or a family member have been diagnosed with dementia, you may benefit from a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Nominating an LPA to handle your affairs before you are unable to make decisions for yourself can ensure that should you lose mental capacity, the person of your choosing will manage your affairs.
Understanding dementia
What exactly is dementia? It’s a broad term that covers a variety of progressive disorders that affect the brain. While there are hundreds of subtypes, some of the more common include dementia with Lewy bodies, vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
The human brain comprises nerve cells that communicate with one another via messages. Dementia causes the nerve cells to be damaged, stopping messages being sent to and from the brain correctly, preventing the human body from normal functions.
Progressive disorders such as dementia can diminish sufferers’ ability to make competent decisions and can result in a loss of mental capacity.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Granting LPA status to a friend or family member before you are no longer capable of caring for yourself can be prudent, if you wish to decide what happens to you when you lose mental capacity. You can dictate who cares for you and how you’re cared for, and can also include a statement of specific wishes.
Without a nominated LPA in place, the courts will appoint someone to care for you and this may not be someone you would originally have desired to be handling your affairs.
