WHY DO I NEED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE?
Planning for the future care of a family member or friend with impaired competency is important both for the wellbeing of the person themselves and for the peace of mind of loved ones who support them. Planning for the future can help to eliminate the possibility of crisis altogether or minimise the harm felt by the person who needs support.
A person and their carer(s) can be proactive in planning for the future by creating a clear vision of what this future might be and developing a plan that can make it happen.
The first step in developing a plan is to find out, to the best of your ability, the hopes and wishes of the person themselves. Try to keep the focus on the person and allow them to have as much input into the process as possible.
It is useful to work out what the goals and future needs of the person you care for may be before you seek legal or financial advice. If you have a plan it is easier to get access to legal advice that is relevant to your situation. A plan that is well developed can be updated regularly to take into account the changing needs of the person you care for.
Please click here to read some examples of scenarios that a person, their families and carers might face when planning for the future. These scenarios may help you to think through some of your own issues.
