A lasting power of attorney is a legal document that lets the person you care for appoint someone or people to help then make decisions or to make decisions on their behalf.
This gives them more control over what happens to them if something happens so they cannot make their own decisions. For this to be done, the person you care for must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make their own decisions) when they make their Legal Power of Attorney.
There are two types of Legal Power of Attorney which may help you and the person you care for:
- health and welfare
- property and financial affairs
You can choose to make one type or both.
Health and welfare lasting power of attorney is used to give an attorney the power to make decisions about things like:
- daily routine, for example washing, dressing, eating
- medical care
- moving into a care home
- life-sustaining treatment
It can only be used when the person is unable to make their own decisions.
Property and financial affairs lasting power of attorney gives the power to make decisions about money and property for you, for example:
- managing a bank or building society account
- paying bills
- collecting benefits or a pension
- selling your home
It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with the person’s permission.
You can find out more about Lasting Power of Attorney on the Government website at www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney
