Legal experts issue families warning over dementia explosion

Black Country law experts have called on families to face up to a huge explosion in dementia so they can safeguard loved one’s finances.

Waldrons Solicitors said thousands of families in the UK each year endure bureaucratic nightmares, because they can’t help with paperwork.

“Many people experience dementia when they are older, leaving families unprepared,” said Dawn Cash of Waldrons, who have several offices in the Black Country.

“With the Alzheimers Society saying figures of dementia sufferers are expected to top a million in the next decade this isn’t a problem which will go away,” she added.

“The task of caring for people in such situations is on the increase as we live longer.  The Mental Capacity Act 2005 allows people to manage money on behalf of loved ones under what is known as lasting power of attorney agreements, and these are called for in such situations,” she said.

She said a lasting power of attorney is a drawn up document, which allows another person to make decisions where a person has lost mental capacity, but it can only be set up when the person is still able to make decisions for themselves.

“Trying to talk to banks or similar bodies on behalf of someone else leaves us all frustrated due to client confidentiality,” she said.

“Imagine how difficult that is if the person is not able to make their own decisions?

Currently according to the Alzheimers Society only 44 per cent of people with dementia in the UK are ever diagnosed.

“We wish to emphasise that once a lasting power of attorney is in place it does not mean the donor can no longer make decisions for themselves,” she added. “They can continue as before, but the appointed attorney is there just in case.”

“However, with an ageing population the need for us all to have safeguards in place is vital.

Nolan PR, Acorn House, 140 Station Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6AE.  01564 822861 / 07505 133302

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