According to Alzheimer’s Research – the UK’s leading dementia research charity – the number of people with dementia is projected to increase rapidly over the next several decades, mainly due to increases in life expectancy and population demographics.
According to the charity, one million people in the UK will have dementia by 2025, and this will increase to two million by 2050.
An incapacity crisis seems to be looming. This is caused by the gap between the rising number of us facing incapacity (due to people living longer and the prevalence of conditions like dementia), compared with too few Britons planning ahead for a loss of capacity by making a Lasting Power of Attorney for either our financial or health issues.
We all run the risk of developing dementia and everyone should know that making a Lasting Power of Attorney gives us the choice as to who makes decisions on our behalf. It can be a relative, family friend, spouse or civil partner or even a professional and you can specify what decisions you are happy for them to make on your behalf.
With 12.5 million people in the UK over the age of 65 and only just under 1 million LPA’s registered with the Court of Protection, it’s time we all take matters into our own hands and do something to ensure we have the people we trust making decisions on our behalf.
If you would like to find out more information regarding making a Lasting Power of Attorney, or would like any advice, please contact our Wills, Trusts and Probate team.