It is estimated that there are over five million people with unpaid caring responsibilities in England and Wales. According to research carried out by Carers UK, most people who provide care or support to a loved one are helping to manage their affairs in one way or another. This might include booking their doctor’s appointments, arranging their care or looking after their finances.
Why having an LPA matters
For anyone caring for a disabled, older or ill relative or friend, life can be very busy. Alongside providing emotional support, carers often manage someone else’s appointments, medication needs, and many day-to-day basic needs.
If there aren’t formal arrangements in place to help manage a loved one’s affairs, there may be barriers when trying to deal with organisations or professionals on their behalf - which can make a difficult situation even harder. A lasting power of attorney (LPA) or deputyship order could make it easier.
Alison has much experience caring for both of her parents. She says:
“With regard to the issue of dealing with service providers on behalf of your loved one, the single biggest help by far is having an LPA in place. When my mum died suddenly and my siblings and I took on Dad’s care, having an LPA was invaluable - without it a stressful situation would have been ten times worse.
“I have an LPA for myself as well, even though I hope it won't be needed for a good few years yet!”
Ruth Duffin, Public Guardian and CEO of Office of the Public Guardian.
"A Lasting Power of Attorney doesn't just offer peace of mind—it empowers individuals to take control of their futures. We've partnered with Carers UK to deliver an informational session to explain how LPAs can provide lasting reassurance for both carers and their loved ones."
Emily Holzhausen CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, said:
“For unpaid carers, having an LPA in place can bring vital reassurance – knowing you have the legal authority to support and act in the best interests of the person you care for, if they’re ever unable to make decisions for themselves. Talking about future care, finances or medical wishes can be difficult and overwhelming. But having those discussions early can make a real difference for carers, providing clarity when it’s needed most.”
Which LPA is right for your situation?
There are two different types of LPA. An individual can choose to make one type, or both. They are:
finance and property LPA
health and welfare LPA
A finance and property LPA can be used at any time but only when the ‘donor’ has specified it’s okay to do so. It covers decisions around paying bills, handling bank accounts, and sorting out mortgages.
A health and welfare LPA can only be used when an individual can’t make decisions for themself. It covers aspects of daily routine like washing and eating, medical care, moving into a care home and life sustaining treatment.
Pwysigrwydd Atwrneiaethau Arhosol (LPAs) i ofalwyr a’u hanwyliaid
Amcangyfrifir bod dros bum miliwn o bobl â chyfrifoldebau gofal di-dâl yng Nghymru a Lloegr. Yn ôl ymchwil a gynhaliwyd gan Carers UK, mae’r rhan fwyaf o bobl sy’n darparu gofal neu gymorth i anwyliad yn helpu i reoli eu materion mewn un ffordd neu’r llall. Gallai hyn gynnwys trefnu eu apwyntiadau â meddyg, trefnu eu gofal neu ofalu am eu harian.
Pam fod cael LPA yn bwysig
Ar gyfer unrhyw un sy’n gofalu am berthynas neu ffrind anabl, hŷn neu sâl, gall bywyd fod yn brysur iawn. Ochr yn ochr â darparu cymorth emosiynol, mae gofalwyr yn aml yn rheoli apwyntiadau, anghenion meddyginiaeth, a llawer o anghenion sylfaenol dyddiol rhywun arall.
Os nad oes trefniadau ffurfiol ar waith i helpu i reoli materion anwyliad, efallai y bydd rhwystrau wrth geisio delio â sefydliadau neu weithwyr proffesiynol ar eu rhan - a all wneud sefyllfa anodd hyd yn oed yn anoddach. Gallai atwrneiaeth arhosol (LPA) neu orchymyn dirprwyaeth ei gwneud hi'n haws.
Mae gan Alison lawer o brofiad o ofalu am ei dau riant. Dywed:
“O ran y mater o ddelio â darparwyr gwasanaethau ar ran eich anwyliad, yr un cymorth mwyaf o bell ffordd yw cael LPA ar waith. Pan fu farw fy mam yn sydyn a minnau a fy mrodyr a chwiorydd yn dod yn gyfrifol am ofal Dad, roedd cael LPA yn amhrisiadwy - hebddo byddai sefyllfa llawn straen wedi bod ddeg gwaith yn waeth.
“Mae gen i LPA ar gyfer fi fy hun hefyd, er fy mod yn gobeithio na fydd ei hangen am ychydig flynyddoedd eto!”
“Nid yw Atwrneiaeth Arhosol yn cynnig tawelwch meddwl yn unig - mae’n grymuso unigolion i gymryd rheolaeth o’u dyfodol. Rydym wedi ffurfio partneriaeth â Carers UK i gyflwyno sesiwn wybodaeth i esbonio sut y gall Atwrneiaethau Arhosol ddarparu sicrwydd parhaol i ofalwyr a’u hanwyliaid.”
Dywedodd Emily Holzhausen CBE, Cyfarwyddwr Polisi a Materion Cyhoeddus yn Carers UK:
“I ofalwyr di-dâl, gall cael LPA ar waith ddod â sicrwydd hanfodol – gwybod bod gennych yr awdurdod cyfreithiol i gefnogi a gweithredu er budd gorau’r unigolyn rydych chi’n gofalu amdano, os na allant wneud penderfyniadau drostynt eu hunain byth. Gall siarad am ofal, cyllid neu ddymuniadau meddygol yn y dyfodol fod yn anodd ac yn llethol. Ond gall cael y trafodaethau hynny’n gynnar wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i ofalwyr, gan ddarparu eglurder pan fo’i angen fwyaf.”
Pa LPA sy’n iawn ar gyfer eich sefyllfa chi?
Mae dau fath gwahanol o LPA. Gall unigolyn ddewis gwneud un math, neu’r ddau. Yr ddau yw:
LPA ar gyfer cyllid ac eiddo
LPA ar gyfer iechyd a lles
Gellir defnyddio LPA ar gyfer cyllid ac eiddo ar unrhyw adeg ond dim ond pan fydd y ‘rhoddwr’ wedi nodi ei bod yn iawn gwneud hynny. Mae’n cwmpasu penderfyniadau ynghylch talu biliau, trin cyfrifon banc, a delio â morgeisi.
Dim ond pan na all unigolyn wneud penderfyniadau drosto’i hun y gellir defnyddio LPA ar gyfer iechyd a lles. Mae’n cwmpasu agweddau ar drefn ddyddiol fel ymolchi a bwyta, gofal meddygol, symud i gartref gofal a thriniaeth cynnal bywyd.
Insight and updates on the work of the Office of the Public Guardian for our partners, including the finance sector, legal professionals and third sector, as well as those working in the health and care profession.
2 comments
Comment by angela cox posted on
thanks - useful info
Comment by Owen Gray posted on
Important advice for the young and the not so young