Advice

Four ways to plan for the future when living with dementia

Making plans and sharing your wishes with your loved ones can be empowering. It'll also be helpful for family and friends.

Too often, people don’t take advantage of the legal tools available to plan ahead. People with dementia may not know that they can plan in advance; they may believe family members can make decisions on their behalf if they ever cannot. Legally, this isn’t the case unless they have a legal power.

We recommend planning for your future as a way of ensuring that your wishes are followed. Make sure that those close to you and involved in your care are aware of any plans that you make.

Four things to consider when planning your future

1. Lasting powers of attorney

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) allows you to give those you trust the power to make decisions for you. This is helpful if there is ever a time when you cannot make certain decisions yourself. 

There are two types of LPA; one is for health and welfare decisions, and the other is for financial decisions. Often people make the financial LPA but not the health and welfare one, but the two are equally important.

An LPA for health and welfare enables families to make decisions about care, treatment, and even where someone will live. Without this, families can still be consulted but professionals will make the decision. It is, of course, up to you whether you wish to make either LPA, but it’s important to consider the value in them both.

Alzheimer’s Society offers a digital assistance service to help people create and register LPA forms.

2. Advance decision to refuse treatment

Making an advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT) sets out any wishes you have about certain medical treatments. You can specify procedures that you do not want to receive in the future.

For example, you may not want a blood transfusion or may not want to be resuscitated in certain circumstances. An ADRT must be followed by health professionals (where applicable) if you were unable to make the decision yourself. ADRTs need to be written down and must contain certain information.

We have a template form to help you create an advance decision to refuse treatment.
 

3. Advance statements

An advance statement enables you to write down your general wishes and preferences for your future care. This can include anything from your preferences on food, drink and hobbies to where you would like to live.

Advance statements are not legally binding, but must be taken into account if decisions are ever made for you in the future. To go against an advance statement there must be a good reason. You can make an advance statement verbally, but it is best to write it down.

Our booklet, Living with dementia: Planning ahead, provides more information on advance care planning.

4. Making or updating a Will

You can also plan for the future by writing or updating your Will. 

Having a valid Will can give you peace of mind that your wishes will be fulfilled. It’s also a powerful way to reflect your values and invest in the future you want to create for the people you love.

Read our Will writing guide to understand the steps involved, including how to leave a gift. You'll also find guidance here on how to word your wishes in your Will, with templates for you to follow.

You can take the first step today by registering with Alzheimer’s Society’s Will to remember service, which can help you write or update a simple Will for free.