Last updated on August 18th, 2015 at 11:58 am

It is estimated that there are over 750,000 people in the UK with dementia, a number that will double over the next 30 years according to the Department of Health.

The Institute for Public Policy Research has revealed that the estimated cost to the UK economy of dementia is between £15bn and £23bn every year – more than any other major health condition including heart disease and cancer.

Dementia is a loss of cognitive ability from a previously unimpaired person which goes beyond just ‘old age’. It can be static or progressive (which results in a long term decline) and affects many areas of the brain including memory, attention span, language and problem solving skills. People who suffer from dementia need a high level of care and may continue to do so for several decades.

Seeing a loved one change and lose their cognitive ability is horrible enough but to see additional burdens put upon them by not being able to cope with everyday issues such as finances can be even worse, so it is essential to plan ahead so that life can run as normally as possible.

There are several things that can be done to make life less complicated for the sufferer and those caring for them.  One of these things is to make a will.  Most people appreciate that they need to, but often just don’t get round to doing it.   A will is vital, offering peace of mind in knowing that affairs are sorted and matters can be taken care of with as little fuss as possible in the event of a person’s death.  However, it is important to remember that you must have the required mental capacity to draft a will so it should be done as soon as possible.

Losing mental capacity to deal with affairs during our lifetime is not something we usually think about, but Oliver Thomas, director of Bupa’s UK care homes highlights the problem that can arise by saying “Illness and dependencies can creep up very suddenly, and it can be very distressing for people and their relatives if they haven’t planned and aren’t sure what to do when they’re faced with an urgent need such as for care and support.

More serious conditions such as dementia can leave individuals unable to make even simple financial decisions, sign cheques or remember PIN numbers – let alone anything more complex. It is often assumed that a partner or child can take over responsibility but that is not the case.

Unless you legally nominate someone by signing a Lasting Power of Attorney, your assets can be frozen and may be managed by the Court of Protection.  It can all add up to a lot of time, effort and extra stress just at a time when a family member may be distressed at a loved one’s illness.”

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows a person (called a donor) to nominate one or more people (called attorneys) to act on their behalf, not only while they are mentally capable but also if or when they lose mental capacity.

Two types of LPA are available. A Property and Affairs LPA, which gives the attorney the authority to deal with the donor’s finances and property, and a Personal Welfare LPA which allows them to make decisions relating to the donor’s healthcare, welfare and in some cases end of life treatment.

The LPA is only in force once it has been registered with the Office of the Public Guardian in order to protect the donor from misuse of the power by anyone. It is essential that the process is begun as soon as possible as without an LPA nobody has the authority to make decisions on someone else’s behalf without an application to the Office of the Public Guardian first, and this can be very costly and time consuming.  If a registered LPA is in place, attorneys already have the authority to act where necessary.

We are happy to visit you to discuss the LPA with you and your family members to ensure that you understand exactly how it works.

Please click here for more information about lasting powers of attorney

You can find out more about the Remember the Person campaign by clicking on this link http://alzheimers.org.uk/remembertheperson