In these unprecedented times and having read a recent report concerning the mortality rates for England and Wales, I was surprised to see that Covid-19 was not the leading cause of death for the month of March 2021.
There were 45,567 deaths registered in England in March 2021, 656 deaths (1%) more than the five-year average (2015 to 2019). In Wales, there were 2,984 deaths registered, 87 deaths (2.8%) fewer than the five-year average for March.
Covid-19 (coronavirus) was listed as the third leading cause of death in March 2021 in both England and in Wales. Covid-19 was previously the leading cause of death for four consecutive months. The leading cause of death for the month of March 2021 was Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease followed by Ischaemic Heart Diseases.
Why you should plan ahead?
The Alzheimer’s Society recommends that you consider planning ahead. Many people with dementia will reach a point where they can no longer make some decisions for themselves. This is known as lacking “mental capacity” to make those decisions. When this happens, someone else often a family member, carer, or friend will need to decide on behalf of the person with dementia. It may be hard but after a diagnosis of dementia, it is a good idea to plan for the future. It can be reassuring to know that you have made your wishes and preferences clear. It also helps to know that you have chosen people that you trust to make those decisions when you need them to.
To plan for the future you would need to consider:
- Make a Will and/or consider possibly updating an existing Will;
- Lasting Power of Attorney (Financial / Health and Care)
Talking about LPAs with your family, carer or friends can be a good way to think about what you would want for the future. It will also help them to know and understand what your wishes and preferences are.
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) covers decisions about your Financial Affairs, or your Health and Care. These come into effect if you lose mental capacity, or if you no longer want to make decisions for yourself.
There are two types of LPA:
- LPA for financial decisions;
- LPA for health and care decisions.
A Financial LPA can cover anything such as:
- Managing bank accounts
- Payment of bills
- Investing money
- Arranging repairs to property
- Paying mortgage
- Buying and selling property
A Health and Care LPA can only be used once you have lost mental capacity.
An Attorney can generally make decisions about things such as:
- Where you should live
- Your medical care
- What you should eat
- Who you should have contact with
- What kind of social activities you should take part in.
You can also give special permission for your attorney to make decisions about life-sustaining treatment.
DO NOT ASSUME: You should not assume that if you are married or in a civil partnership that your spouse/partner would automatically be able to deal with your bank account, pension and make decisions about your health care if you lose the ability to do so. This is not the case WITHOUT an LPA they will not have the authority.
If Fisher Jones Greenwood can assist you with an Application for Lasting Power of Attorney then please do not hesitate to contact us on 01206 700113 or email [email protected] to arrange a mutually convenient appointment.