Garstang solicitors offering free professional advice for families at Fleetwood nursing home
“Looking after a loved one who has lost capacity is an enormous responsibility emotionally and physically, and managing their legal affairs is a huge part of that”
A solicitors firm with offices across the Fylde coast has been out and about in the community, providing free professional advice for families of residents at a Fleetwood nursing home.
Nicola Hayes, Court of Protection specialist at Vincents solicitors with bases in Lytham, Poulton and Garstang, visited Belsfield Care in Rossall, to meet people whose loved ones have lost or may lose capacity through age, illness or injury.
Top of the agenda was advice on how to document a person’s wishes about their finances, health and welfare while they still have the mental capacity to do so, by drawing up a Lasting Power of Attorney.
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Nicola also outlined the process for protecting vulnerable adults who don’t have an LPA in place, pointing out the difficulties of applying to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order after capacity has been lost.
She gave advice on selling a property to help pay for care, managing a loved one’s finances, and fulfilling the duties of an attorney or court-appointed deputy if named in an LPA.
Nicola also talked through how she, as a Professional Deputy, can advise or even take on that role for a family if preferred.
“Looking after a loved one who has lost capacity is an enormous responsibility emotionally and physically, and managing their legal affairs is a huge part of that,” said Nicola.
“It can be difficult to navigate, so I’m always keen to provide guidance through events like this.
“I want guests to take away the knowledge of what steps they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones; to make an LPA early enough to ensure the person’s wishes can be fulfilled if capacity is lost.
“Making an LPA is an essential part of planning ahead and helps arranged how a life is lived, not simply what happens after a death.”
Nicola’s community outreach programme is open to any organisation which works with vulnerable adults whose affairs need managing by someone else.
She visits nursing homes, care homes and charities across Lancashire and is happy to spend a few hours providing reassurance and free legal advice to residents, their family members, and care home staff.
Paula Bell, manager of Belsfield Rossall, said: “Nicola’s presentation was enlightening and we really appreciated her giving up her time to come and see us.”