# Living with dementia: what conversations do you need to have?
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-04-29
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Protecting Your Loved Ones: Lasting Powers of Attorney and
Meta Description: Learn from specialists about the importance of Lasting Powers of Attorney for individuals living with dementia, and the essential conversations to have with
URL: https://financedigest.com/living-with-dementia-what-conversations-do-you-need-to-havehtml

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The number of people with dementia is set to double by 2050 to over 16.2 million people in Europe, and two million in the UK1 leading to a significant increase in demands on our health and social care services.  It’s therefore never been more important for dementia care to be prioritised as the ageing population continues to grow.

For people just starting out on their dementia journey, or for their loved ones, it can be a worrying time. Here Bernadette Mossman, Healthcare Director at specialist dementia care provider [Vida Healthcare](http://www.vidahealthcare.co.uk/); and Nick Rhodes, Head of Wills & Probate at [Blacks Solicitors](http://www.lawblacks.com/); discuss the conversations you need to know about, and how to approach them sensitively and empathetically.

**Lasting Powers of Attorney**

It’s essential that people living with dementia have a chosen representative to speak and act on their behalf if/when they no longer have the capacity to make decisions for themselves.

According to Nick Rhodes, “A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a document which authorises people (‘attorneys’) to make decisions on an individual’s behalf during their lifetime if they lose capacity or they simply decide they no longer wish to be involved in the everyday running of their finances. An attorney is legally bound to act in a person’s best interest, and Lasting Powers of Attorney are governed by the [Mental Capacity](https://www.financedigest.com/how-financial-advisers-can-assess-mental-capacity-in-their-vulnerable-customers-in-2022.html "How Financial Advisers Can Assess Mental Capacity In Their Vulnerable Customers In 2022") Act 2005.

“There are two different types of Lasting Powers of Attorney, one for [property and financial affairs](https://www.financedigest.com/chinese-love-affair-with-manchester-property-to-strengthen-as-government-welcomes-new-investment.html "Chinese love affair with Manchester property to strengthen as government welcomes new investment"), and one for health and welfare. You can appoint up to four people on your LPAs and you can have different people for your [financial decisions](https://www.financedigest.com/smart365-to-unite-advisers-and-technology-for-better-financial-decisions.html "Smart365 to unite advisers and technology for better financial decisions") and your health decisions.”

Bernadette Mossman suggests, “Loved ones must work with their relatives while they still have capacity to make informed [decisions and implement a plan of action](https://www.financedigest.com/tf1-to-take-action-against-vivendis-canal-over-decision-to-stop-airing-its-programmes.html "TF1 to take action against Vivendi’s Canal+ over decision to stop airing its programmes"). The [plan should allow the appointed attorney to speak and act in the best interest of the person](https://www.financedigest.com/best-guide-to-build-a-personal-financial-plan.html "Best Guide to Build a Personal Financial Plan") living with dementia based on their known wishes and preferences. This might include issues such as decisions around treatment and care, ‘do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation’ (DNACPR), admission to a selected [care home](https://www.financedigest.com/home-care-chemicals-market-is-expected-to-expand-at-a-cagr-close-to-5-over-the-assessment-period-of-2021-and-2031.html "Home Care Chemicals Market is expected to expand at a CAGR close to 5% over the assessment period of 2021 and 2031"), and complex care decisions.

“A plan should also be implemented regarding finances and financial arrangements. This should include access to the individuals funds to allow payment for care and general [day to day living](https://www.financedigest.com/pensions-awareness-day-could-you-get-by-on-less-than-living-wage.html "Pensions Awareness Day: Could you get by on less than living wage? "), and enable the representative to access bank accounts, investment, bills, and properties if required.”

For Nick Rhodes it’s important that people are aware that a spouse or next of kin can’t [access bank](https://www.financedigest.com/hair-care-shouldnt-break-the-bank-transplant-surgery-should-be-accessible-and-affordable-for-all-men.html "Hair-Care Shouldn’t Break The Bank – Transplant Surgery Should Be Accessible and Affordable For All Men") accounts, and pay utilities without an LPA. “If the person living with dementia no longer has the capacity to make decisions and a plan hasn’t been put in place, the [case will have to go to the Court](https://www.financedigest.com/belgian-court-decides-to-keep-eu-corruption-case-suspect-in-detention.html "Belgian court decides to keep EU corruption case suspect in detention") of Protection to secure permission to act on behalf of the individual. This can lead to extensive delays with the process taking up to eight months.”

**Future wishes**

Bernadette Mossman advises that this conversation needs to take place at the earliest opportunity.  “It allows the loved ones of a [person living with dementia to understand the preferred care](https://www.financedigest.com/airless-pump-market-to-grow-by-1-8x-as-demand-in-personal-care-cosmetics-industry-picks-up-pace-future-market-insights.html "Airless Pump Market to Grow by 1.8x as Demand in Personal Care & Cosmetics Industry Picks Up Pace: Future Market Insights") options as their health deteriorates.  This is never an easy conversation to have, however it’s preferable to begin discussing this when the individual still has capacity and is starting out on their dementia journey, rather than [towards the end](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-kingfisher-sees-annual-profit-towards-higher-end-of-forecasts.html "Britain’s Kingfisher sees annual profit towards higher end of forecasts") of their life when loved ones will be grieving. Holding this conversation [early will also  allow a plan](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-microsofts-bing-plans-ai-ads-in-early-pitch-to-advertisers.html "Exclusive-Microsoft’s Bing plans AI ads in early pitch to advertisers") of care to be drawn up and reviewed as the individual’s needs change.”

**Approaching difficult conversations**

When it comes to holding difficult conversations and how to approach them, it’s important that communication is open and honest. Conversations should be continuous so that the up-to-date wishes of the individual living with dementia are communicated, [including future](https://www.financedigest.com/title-interventional-pulmonology-market-shows-huge-demand-and-future-scope-including-top-players-2031.html "Interventional Pulmonology Market Shows Huge Demand and Future Scope Including Top Players 2031") wishes. Keeping families and loved ones informed and involved, alongside professionals such as care home operators and GPs, will ensure the right care is provided at the right time.

Joint [meetings and discussions](https://www.financedigest.com/new-zealand-pm-meets-biden-to-discuss-u-s-indo-pacific-strategy.html "New Zealand PM meets Biden to discuss U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy") between professionals, the individual, and their loved ones will provide everyone with much needed support and clarity which is essential at what can be an extremely difficult time.


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