13 Dementia Advocacy Services [Update 1 - 31.10.13]

Like most public services and professional organisations, the National Health Service (NHS) has a complaints system.  A later post will describe the twists and turns of complaints systems generally, including the NHS complaints system: whereas this post might meet a more pressing need for one of the following local independent services for advocacy on behalf of a person with dementia, a vulnerable member of the family or the care 

Although the emphasis in this post is on those with dementia, the local services may have a wider remit of support for others too.

As an example of what is available locally, there is the Invicta Advocay Network www.invicta-advocacy-network.uk a charity specialising in advocacy. Briefly the services offered include:

• Guidance and support for those with mental capacity to make decisions themselves or with     help
• Guidance and support for those without mental capacity to make their own decisions.

A similar charity in advocacy work is Advocacy Service, Age UK North West Kent.

In the UK the Dementia Advocay Network provides guidance, standards and training for individuals who wish to improve as advocates or to become dementia advocates. 

Reference: Age UK NW Kent  "Guide to Professional Advocacy". 

                                   

12.1 Some Legal Points on Housing and other Care Settings for Seniors with Dementia

When seeking accommodation, seniors with dementia have many of the concerns which other seniors have, but also have other needs particular to their circumstances. As a person's life with a diagnosis of dementia starts it may not be very different that that of the others. In fact the former may already be addressing the concerns touched on above. These are likely to include:

• the prospect of downsizing from a much loved home
• the types of accommodation needed: bungalow, flat, serviced accommodation, care home, rest home, accommodation in a family member's home, etc   
• the practical tasks faced in getting ready for such a move, namely: a) emptying the loft, b) reducing the quantum of furniture, and which items to discard,  c) identifying the criteria for the search for suitable alternative accommodation eg location, size, facilities, services, etc 
• the need to seek professional and other advice and services in respect of the last items.

Where a person has been diagnosed with dementia, it is a similar set of concerns but is likely to be laden with the following:

• having need to make decisions, so depending on how far along the dementia jouney an individual has reached he or she may find questions about mental capacity to act on certain decisions
• this leads to pointers as to whether there exists any valid legal documents, such as: a) a Will, b) a Lasting Powers of Attorney concerning property and finance, c) a Lasting Powers of Attorney concerning health, care and wellbeing
• if at a late stage of dementia, perhaps following a crisis, it is found that none of these exist or for some reason they are invalid. Here, if mental capacity is lacking, it may be necesssary for a family member, friend or professional to seek an order of the Court of Protection (UK). 
• Finally, an important point is that the wishes which might have been held earlier may not be known by the health and care team in assessing suitable treatment.
• Where valid legal documents are available the wishes of the individual must normally be observed  by those handling property and finance, but perhaps more importantly, prosessional medical and care staff are required to see that the wishes of the patient are addressed appropriately in accord with wishes as to treatment. Similarly, on death the deceased estate passes under the rules of intestacy unless there is a valid Will (see Post 12).