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Home » News & Blog » Be dementia aware and leave your legacy with peace of mind
Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors supported national Dementia Awareness Week by offering some valuable advice at a ‘Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney’ clinic held at a local Leek care home.
The advice session took place at Wall Hill Care Home in Leek and gave attendees the opportunity to raise key questions on the topic of when and how is the right time to make arrangements ahead of time, particularly when having to deal with the potentially debilitating effects of a disease such as dementia.
Dementia can be used to describe a range of symptoms that affect the brain such as communication problems, reasoning, mood changes and memory loss.
Currently, there are over some 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, including 40,000 people with early onset dementia (before age 65).*
At its progressive stage, dementia sufferers can struggle with daily life and the ability to cope with finances and day-to-day activities, resulting in that individual becoming increasingly reliant on those around them.
The specialist team at Bowcock & Pursaill will ensure each client is offered advice and support based upon their own individual circumstances from writing a will to ensuring their loved ones’ affairs are taken care of through Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Bowcock & Pursaill Chartered Legal Executive Janet Howson who led the advice session said: “By running the advice clinic at this time we were able to raise dementia awareness and also answer some pertinent questions in relation to this in terms of arranging a Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA).
“We can help by encouraging people to get their affairs in order which will ensure their estates are passing to those they would wish in the event of their death.
“Wills and LPAs can only be made by a person who has mental capacity so it is important not to delay these important documents as loss of mental capacity can happen suddenly by a stroke or accident as well as the gradual onset of dementia related illness.
“In such circumstances where an individual has progressive dementia putting a Lasting Power of Attorney in place will ease the road ahead for family members when dealing with their affairs.”
Director at Wall Hill Care Home Dr Madhu Garala said: “Bowcock & Pursaill’s advice session was well attended and most welcome. It was extremely helpful to have expert answers at hand concerning what can sometimes be a complicated and sensitive issue.”
More information about Dementia Awareness can be found at www.alzeimers.org.uk
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