We have talked before about what a lasting power of attorney (LPA) is but, in a nutshell, it is a legal document that lets a person, known as the donor, appoint one or more people, known as attorneys, to help them make decisions or make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to make decisions for themselves.
You can have a LPA for property and financial affairs which means attorney(s) can help you make decisions about your property, investments, pensions, bank accounts, tax, bills, etc.
A health and welfare LPA allows an attorney to make health decisions for you such as whether you are cared for at home or in a care home, and what medication you receive. You can also elect that your attorney(s) can make life-sustaining decisions for you if you have lost mental capacity, ie. they can give or refuse consent to life-sustaining treatment on your behalf. If you choose this option, your attorney(s) can speak to the doctors on your behalf as if they are you.
