Families urgedto arrange powerof attorney
Health and care workers join forces to encourage Scots to appoint a person who can make key decisions in the event of serious illness or an accident
scots have been urged to arrange Power of Attorney (POA) so that a loved one can carry out their wishes in the event of serious illness or an accident.
A POA is a legal document in which an individual is named to act or make decisions on your behalf in the event that you lose the capacity to do so.
Every year, thousands of people in Scotland find themselves in that very situation. Now, 29 Health and Social Care Partnerships across the country have joined forces to encourage people to nominate a POA to make key decisions and avoid the stress of loved ones having to go through courts to assume guardianship.
Elaine Hamilton of ILAWS Scotland, an agency dedicated to arranging Wills and Power of Attorney, said people often assume their next of kin will automatically be able to make decisions on their behalf if they develop an illness or have an accident that affects their mental capacity. She added: “Unfortunately, that’s not actually the case. By law, without Power of Attorney, your loved one may have to go to court in order to be able to make decisions on your behalf which can be a long, stressful and potentially expensive process. A POA is a modern-day necessity to protect your future and your estate.
“The good news is, it’s very easy to arrange. It only takes a phone call and someone can come to your home, or can meet
with you to discuss your wishes and concerns. If you choose to go ahead, the rest will be taken care of for you.”
As experts in estate and future planning, ILAWS can help protect your home and are on hand to offer no-obligation advice. They offer a free consultation regarding your own personal circumstances to assess your options and
Many are in denial and may lose most of their savings and home
recommend the best way forward.
Elaine explains: “Many people find themselves in denial as they get older and their health deteriorates. They don’t make provisions financially in case they do need to access care in the future.
“The result is that they (or their families) may lose most of their savings and their home to pay for the care fees leaving loved ones with little or nothing.
“That’s why it’s vital to plan to ensure you can provide the best possible care for yourself without losing out.
“If you need to go into care, your local authority could seek to take your assets (cash and property) including your home to help cover the cost.
“Currently residential nursing care home fees run to around £1,000-per-week so you can see how you can lose your cash and home very quickly. The key to avoiding residential care home fees and home care fees is to get professional help as early as possible.”
There are a variety of options for protecting assets, including the use of different trusts which are controlled by the homeowner and their children. Writing a Will is another vital step towards securing your family’s future.
You can find out more by calling ILAWS Scotland on 0800
049 9688, where the team can carry out all the professional requirements of a POA for the special price of £200 (plus £79 Scottish Court Registration Fee) for a limited time only, giving you peace of mind about your future. A Will can cost just £40.