Future Help with Cognitive Decline

BarleyGB

I'm approaching retirement and one thing that is playing on my mind is care for when im hopefully much older, but less capable.

I'm not married, have no children, siblings or close relatives.  I'm well aware of how my mom struggles with basic things, especially banking, accessing benefits via DWP, understanding medication, and medical appointments etc.  Its not dementia or Alzheimer's (its been checked), just general cognitive decline and not being able to adapt to new technology.

Assuming there is no one else I know, who could I go to and be able to trust to be able to help in my later years, im not meaning for care in my home or care home but with frequent general household essential activates.

Are there any services available for this, perhaps a solicitors or agency that could be my power of attorney or similar (or perhaps make an arrangement with friend & one of their siblings).  This is something id anticipate having to pay for but would want confidence they would only act in my best interests?

I would appreciate your thoughts?

Exodi

Just for your information -

There are two types of LPA - Financial and Health.

One allows decisions to made about your property and financial affairs (e.g. paying bills, buying/selling investments/selling property if needed/etc), the other is about your health and welfair (e.g. where you live, who visits you/type of care/etc).

If you do not have an LPA in place and you lost capacity, your financial affairs can be put under the control of the Court of Protection, and this court then decides who manages your affairs. The process can be long and expensive, and annual accounts must be sent to the court for approval, and the person appointed (known as deputy) often has limited powers.

Health and welfare decisions on the other hand may be made by the local authority and medical practitioners based on what they deem to be your best interests.

Of course, you can assign someone else as LPA in advance, as you know. It's important to remember that your attorneys will only be able to act on your behalf with your consent, while you have capacity. They can only unilaterally act on your behalf if you have lost mental capacity.

However, in my opinion, what you describe in your opening post is not an LPA, but a carer - "help with frequent general household essential activities".

You wouldn't want a solicitor acting as LPA to help you with getting some milk and bread delivered from Tesco or to call up Sky to haggle the price of the sports package.

kempiejon

My pal worked with Age Conern now Age UK they were involved in the befrienders, social visits/telephone chats for those old and alone, pretty sure she said there were other volunteers to visit and help out with DIY, IT, home help etc..
Alternatively now's time to start hunting for a companion, I've heard later romance is very fulfilling.

BridgetTheCat

Given the amount of brainwork I’m currently doing for my parents I’ve decided I’m going to bow out at 80.

tacpot12

I think the answer is to build up a network of friends. There are lots of people who are not that social, but who understand that they will be happier and safer if they have someone who is aware of their situation. Often there are skills that can be shared between freinds, and sometimes even just having someone with you while you try to sort out a difficult problem is a benefit. 

So try to cultivate a circle of friends for the purpose of mutual support. There might already be a local group; they might have a flier up in your library or GP practice, and if there isn't, start one while you have the energy, mobility and cognative faculties to do so. It might feel very alien to you to be doing this, but I think you will find lots of people who would be happy to be part of something like that.