Dementia Friendly

There are nearly 1 million people currently living in the UK with dementia.

Led by the Alzheimer’s Society, this week is Dementia Action Week, which is a national event that sees the public coming together to take action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.

Hughes Paddison in turn are raising awareness of becoming a Dementia Friend.

The Dementia Friends Programme is run by the Alzheimer’s Society and aims to change people’s perception of dementia by transforming how the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.  It is hoped that a better understanding of dementia will then lead to people taking positive actions (big or small) that will help those living with dementia. 

Accessing legal services can be daunting for any individual, but for those with dementia it can be particularly challenging. At Hughes Paddison, we aim to make the process as easy as possible for all clients, such as by offering home visits and using plain language instead of legal jargon.

Our Private Client department has built up a wealth of experience in acting for vulnerable individuals, and we can offer people with dementia exactly the same range of services that we offer anyone else.

Anyone can become a Dementia Friend. To become a Dementia Friend or to learn more about what they do, please visit the following link: https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/

Gabrielle Renouf in our Private Client department is a Dementia Friend, and by using the skills gained from being a Dementia Friend in her professional role she aims to provide the right support to even the most vulnerable of clients, in order to access the legal services required.

Being diagnosed with dementia doesn’t always mean you can’t make your own decisions but once a person has a diagnosis, this would be a good time to review matters such as Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney which allow you to choose someone to help manage your affairs if dementia prevents you from doing so in the future.  We encourage everyone not to regard their Wills and or Powers of Attorney as “once in a lifetime” documents but should be reviewed as circumstances change. 

We can also advise carers and families of people with dementia on how to apply to the Court of Protection for Deputyship Orders to allow them to make decisions for someone who lacks capacity to do so for themselves.

If you would like to discuss making a Lasting Power of Attorney or want advice on applying for deputyship, please contact our Private Client department on 01242 574 244.