Solicitors for the Elderly produce A STRATERGY FOR RECOGNISING, PREVENTING AND DEALING WITH THE ABUSE OF OLDER AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE
This comprehensive guide produced for Solicitors, professionals, families and attorneys of the elderly or the vulnerable.
It identifies risk factors and assists those in contact with the elderly to identify abuse and how to deal with it, whether it is in a care home, at home, or in the NHS and it provides remedies for various forms of neglect and abuse and including financial, physical and physiological.
The guide reiterates the benefits of seeking the help and advice of a Solicitor when preparing a Will and especially a Lasting Power of Attorney. A Solicitor adheres to the Solicitors Code of Conduct 2007 and has a duty when acting for clients for example:
- When making a Will a Solicitor has a duty to that their client ensure there is no undue influence or pressure to make a Will and can confirm that the client has testamentary capacity should this later be questioned.
- When making an LPA a Solicitor can fully advise you of the various benefits and pitfalls you may not have thought of. For example to have a condition in the power to have accounts checked by a third party can ensure added protections and this could be carried out by a solicitor.
- Appointing a solicitor to be your Attorney as a Solicitor has a much higher duty of care t act in your best interests and to ensure your affairs are dealt with correctly. A family member or trusted friend could be appointed in a condition of the power to check the accounts of a solicitor.
There are many aspects of Wills and LPA which can be tailored to your needs that Solicitors come across regularly and will have the know-how and experience to deal with.
In addition, the guide provides many useful contact and recourses and a separate guide at the end – Information for an Attorney Acting under a Property and Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney.
Number of Dementia Sufferers predicted to rise 61% by 2026
A recent report has estimated that the number of people suffering from dementia in England in 2007 was 582,827 and due to an increasing ageing population will rise to 937,636 by 2026. The rise will particularly affect those aged 75 and over.
Service costs for dementia are far higher than all other conditions put together. They currently make up 66% of all mental health service costs and by 2026 this is estimated to be 73% of all mental health service costs (at 2007 prices)
One of the recommendations of the report commissioned by the King’s Fund was ‘the establishment of better systems of early detection and treatment of dementia.’
Now has never been a more important time for all age groups to put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place either for your Property and Affairs or for your Personal Welfare.
It will give you peace of mind for the future