Some things need immediate action on Dementia diagnosis:
(You join 700,000 other people in the UK.)
Dementia diagnosis: the background from the NHS in this video.
Steps to take immediately on receiving a dementia diagnosis.
As soon as you have the diagnosis dementia in any form, it is essential that you take immediate steps to get your legal planning in order. You may not be able to do so for much longer. Exactly the same applies to your financial planning. In particular, leaving legal planning too late can be both expensive and personally disastrous. The worst case scenario is that a Court of Protection solicitor takes over the running of your life as your “Deputy.” But perhaps not until after a massive and expensive legal battle in the Court of Protection which may bankrupt you. As the person being fought over, you have the dubious pleasure of paying all the legal bills of those who are fighting for control over you. As well as your own! All because you did not take the simple precaution of organising Lasting Powers of Attorney in good time and ideally before a dementia diagnosis. So urgent planning is prudent. Bear in mind that the absolute minimum time from initial consultation to having a valid and registered Lasting Power of Attorney is a very long three months.
It isn’t just folk with a diagnosis of dementia who should have Lasting Powers of Attorney in place. Anyone can have a stroke, or a car accident at any moment, and be unable to make decisions withing seconds despite previously perfect health. Would you want your family to have to go through the Courts to be able to help you in these circumstances? So it is a step that everyone over 18 should take, not just the unfortunate many who have had a diagnosis of dementia.
We can help with Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, and if you don’t have a financial adviser we can introduce you to one.
Call us on 0800 298 5208 or email us with the form below
Dementia diagnosis: steps to take
