Your health and wellbeing matter. Wills 4 Less Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare Makes decisions on your behalf when you may not be able to do so.
Have you thought about what might happen if one day you were unable to make important decisions about your health and welfare because of an illness, accident or mental incapacitation? This is when a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare really comes into its own.
Some assume that if they lose capacity to decide (due to serious illness for example) their spouse / children/next of kin can step in and make health or care decisions for them. No such luck this time.
Without a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare, medical staff or the authorities may take decisions for you possibly without knowing what you would really wish or believe is important. You can learn more here: https://amersham.wills4less.co.uk/lasting-power-of-attorney-health-welfare/
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare?
What is a Lasting Power of Attorney Health Welfare? A lasting power of attorney (health and welfare) is a way of giving someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions for; you will know and on your behalf should you lose the capacity to do so yourself.
Unlike a financial LPA, the Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare doesn’t become active until you are no longer capable of making decisions for yourself in regard to this part. It allows the person you’ve picked to make decisions on your behalf in line with your values and preferences.
It’s a common mistake but a costly one; lots of people assume, mistakenly, that their partner or family members can step in and make decisions for them if they become unable to. In fact, if you don’t have a Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare in place then issues such as consenting to treatment, where you live and even life sustaining treatment could all be taken out of the hands of your family by a doctor or social services.
Made your Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare will mean:
Let’s explore a few examples that hit close to home:
Suppose your parent is found to have early-stage dementia. While they have capacity, you will encourage them to make a Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare. Two years on, things are getting worse. Thanks to the LPA, you may now act legally in accordance with their express wishes.
A 45-year-old in good health has a serious car crash and goes into a coma. If you don't have an LPA for Health and Welfare, the hospital consults doctors and ethics boards – not the partner, nor children. If they existed, their relatives would have had the opportunity to make urgent care decisions.
You become mentally unwell and are unable to care for yourself. With an LPA, their daughter can choose the best care home – one that offers comfort and familiarity, not simply availability.
These aren’t unusual scenarios – they’re everyday and they demonstrate why having an Lasting Power of Attorney Health Welfare is not only prudent but also crucial.
When you appoint an attorney for your Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare this is probably one of the most important decisions that anyone can make. You should appoint someone:
You may nominate more than one attorney to make decision together or separately on decisions. We generally counsel clients to have one alternate attorney as a stand-in.
Your lawyer is required to act in your best interest, doing everything that he or she can to ensure it serves you as it should. In addition, your Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare can also house detailed preferences and guidance for added peace of mind.
A will deals only with what happens after you die. A Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare ensures you are looked after according to your wishes while you are alive but aren’t able to make decisions. They combine forces to keep you and your family safe.
At Will 4 Less, we make everything clear and affordable, so that no one will ever be priced out of such important protection without having to pay extortionate soliciters fees.
Without a Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare in place, the decisions about your care and treatment may be taken by social services or health teams without having any legal input from your family. It can create the frustrating experience that your friends and family members are powerless to do anything.
At Will 4 Less we simplify and make it easy and more affordable for you. We walk you through it:
You’ll never want to roll the dice when it comes to your future health choices. Making a Lasting Power Of Attorney Health Welfare is one of the kindest and most sensible things you can do-for both yourself and your friends, family.
Ready to get started? Get in touch today and we can offer specialist advice on how to establish your Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare.
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