Prime Minister doubles funding for research into dementia

Prime Minister David Cameron is to double the funding for research into dementia to £66m by 2015.

It's estimated that dementia affects about 800,000 people in the UK.

Mr Cameron said: "One of the greatest challenges of our time is what I'd call the quiet crisis, one that steals lives and tears at the hearts of families, but that relative to its impact is hardly acknowledged.

"Dementia is simply a terrible disease. And it is a scandal that we as a country haven't kept pace with it.

"The level of diagnosis, understanding and awareness of dementia is shockingly low. It is as though we've been in collective denial."

No one can predict their future health but it is possible to take legal steps to protect your interests should your health deteriorate at some point in the future. Every year thousands of people do this by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).

LPAs enable you to nominate someone such as a family member or trusted associate to make decisions on your behalf if you ever lose the ability to do so yourself in the future through illnesses such as dementia.

The property and finance LPA allows you to appoint someone to look after your financial affairs and the personal welfare LPA lets you grant an attorney authority over such matters as health care and the kind of treatment you receive.

There are safeguards to prevent the system being abused so you can prepare for the possibility of ill health secure in the knowledge that you can leave important decisions in the hands of someone you trust.

If you don't have such arrangements in place then your family may have to go through complicated and time-consuming legal processes just to get the authority to help run your affairs for you. That is the last thing they want at a time when they will already be worried about you and your failing health.

LPAs should be drawn up with the help of a solicitor to ensure that they accurately express your wishes and protect your interests.

Please contact us if you would like more information about Lasting Powers of Attorney.