Mental Capacity and Lasting Power of Attorney
Mental Capacity
Being able to make your own decisions about your life is important. When you can’t, there is help available to make decisions for you that are the same as what you would want, or would support you or protect you. This is often called ‘mental capacity’, meaning the ability to understand or make decisions.
There are lots of rules about how to work out if someone has mental capacity, and who can help someone to make decisions, based on Government law called the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
If you think someone you know needs help to make decisions now, or you want to plan for a time when they may no longer be able to make decisions, there is lots more helpful information on Mental Capacity, aimed at family friends and carers, available on the Sheffield Directory.
Mental capacity: information for family, friends and carers | Sheffield Directory
Lasting Power of Attorney
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 aims to empower people to make their own decisions, if needed with support. A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is one form of supported decision making, where an adult can give a person they trust the power to make a decision on their behalf, if there is a time they lack capacity to make the decision.
There are 2 types of Lasting Power of Attorney:
- property and financial affairs
- health and welfare
Mencap have some really useful information on their website about Lasting Power of Attorney, this includes a Easy Read Guides about the 2 types.
Mencap Information and Easy Read Guides to Lasting Power of Attorney
Other Helpful Websites
Mental Capacity Act - Social care and support guide - NHS
Mental Capacity Explained (England and Wales) | Carers UK
What is The Mental Capacity Act? | Mencap