This week is Dementia Action Week, a campaign which runs every year in the UK to raise awareness of Dementia. This year the Alzheimer’s Society are focusing on diagnoses and symptoms – you can read more about their vital work here.
It is important to be able to spot the signs of dementia early as diagnosis is vital to give people access to care, treatment and support, however currently around 1 in 3 people with dementia do not have a diagnosis.
Sadly, some people with dementia may lose mental capacity and become unable to make some decisions. Mental capacity is one of the legal test which professionals will consider before you can carry out certain activities, like executing a Will or a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Not everyone with dementia loses mental capacity – it can depend on lots of different factors, like the things you are wanting to make decisions about and your current health at the time that the decisions are being made. It is however still wise to think about planning for the future, even if you are in generally good health.
Lasting Powers of Attorney can appoint someone to make decisions for you, providing reassurance that your wishes will be followed should you ever lack mental capacity in the future. If you don’t set up a Lasting Power of Attorney, your loved ones might need to apply to the Court of Protection to become your deputy. This will usually be more expensive, time consuming and stressful than if they were appointed under a Power an Attorney.
Our teams work with people whose lives have been affect by dementia and our colleagues are Dementia Friends – we know just how vital being aware of the signs and symptoms early is when putting your affairs in order. To this end, please be encouraged to have a look at the signs and symptoms and even consider becoming a Dementia Friend.
