Thinking of what might happen to us as we grow older can naturally seem daunting and often becomes something that people don’t like to discuss with friends and family or plan for.
Our many years of experience in helping people to deal with the affairs of loved ones who have lost mental capacity and issues relating to Wills, Estates and Probate have shown us just how important it is to plan for later life.
Thinking even further ahead, if you have concerns about your future health or ability to make decisions, it can be very helpful to talk to the people closest to you today about those concerns and seek the appropriate expert advice.
A little planning now regarding your estate and who you want to make decisions on your behalf should you be unable to, can offer peace of mind that your needs and wishes will be met further down the line, but also make the process easier for your family and friends.
At Irwin Mitchell, we take time to get to know our clients. We understand that people come to us at a difficult time in their lives, and we know how important it is that every aspect of your case is taken care of. Whether it’s wills or property, family or Court of Protection, we’re here to help.
A Dementia Friendly Law Firm
Because of the work we do concerning helping people prepare for later life and the care of elderly and vulnerable people, we see first-hand the impact conditions such as dementia can have on our clients and their loved ones.
Our experience drives our commitment to becoming a dementia friendly law firm and, to mark Dementia Awareness Week 2017, we offered and encouraged all of our employees the opportunity to become Dementia Friends.
During the week we created 424 new Dementia Friends, in addition to those already trained, in the hope of offering better support and understanding to clients living with the condition, while raising awareness of dementia in the communities we operate in.
Find out more about our involvement with the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme, the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia, which aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.
Our Research
Our research into Planning For Later Life focused on attitudes towards dementia and trigger points for worrying about future health.
More than 225,000 people are diagnosed with the illness each year, and the number of sufferers is expected to reach 1m by 2025.
The results of our surveys show that 64% of over 40s worry about the condition but that only 13% have a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), a legal document that enables friends or family to manage a person’s finances.
Dementia and facing later life in general might feel like a challenge but there are many things you and your family can do to take control.
On this page you can find the results from our surveys, a checklist of key points, such as finances and legal provisions, for you to consider when making your plan for later life that you can download and print out and fill in, a video which highlights the importance of making a Will, and case studies to help you and your family plan for the future.
If you, or someone you know, is worried about dementia, call the National Dementia Helpline on 0300 222 1122 or email helpline@alzheimers.org.uk
Planning For Later Life – Checklist
Download, print and complete this form to tell your loved ones important information such as who you bank with, your utility providers and what your funeral plans are, so you know they will easily be able to deal with your affairs in later life.
The Importance Of Making A Will
Dementia And Later Life Survey Results
To coincide with Dementia Awareness Week 2017 we asked people what their trigger points were for worrying about becoming older and their future health. What would prompt you to start planning for later life?
In 2016 we asked over 1000 people aged 40 and above about their attitudes towards dementia and how they are planning for later life. Would your answers be the same?
Lasting Power Of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document and tool to help you plan how, when and who to pass responsibility to for handling your affairs. Find out more about LPA.
Case Study
Contentious Probate expert Paula Myers examines the case of Eva Burns after her son disputed the validity of her Will, on the basis that his mother was suffering signs of dementia at the time she made it.