Reassurance as care of elderly and vulnerable comes under scrutiny
Published: 04:25PM BST 29 Jul 2010
Media attention has led to adverse publicity, with the Court dubbed a 'secret court', and solicitors referred to as 'professional deputies'.
We've a growing elderly population in the UK, and although many of us can expect to live into our 80s and 90s thanks to advances in medical science, many of us – to a greater or lesser degree – will lose the ability to be able to manage our financial affairs.
Five years ago, Access Legal from Shoosmiths identified a need for a specialist unit to deal with the affairs of the elderly and vulnerable.
The unit would be run by specialist lawyers who could advise clients and their family and friends effectively, efficiently, and in a sympathetic manner.
Today our elderly and vulnerable client team has earned an enviable reputation, able to offer advice on the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney – both financial and welfare, deputyship applications, trustee applications and all matters needing the consent of the Court of Protection.
Our own professional deputies act on behalf of numerous individuals, from those who have suffered a catastrophic injury and received large personal injury payouts to the elderly who have perhaps no immediate family to deal with their financial affairs.
The team supporting our professional deputies rely heavily on the help and advice of family and friends of the patient and regularly arrange meetings with the patient, their family or friends and social workers where necessary.
Over the last few years the unit has run a number of seminars across the country aimed at professionals dealing with the elderly and vulnerable with the aim of educating and updating them on the law as it affects their own areas of work and expertise.
In return, members of the unit themselves have gained an invaluable insight into the difficulties faced by other professionals working in this field.
The care of the elderly and vulnerable is, and will always remain, an emotive issue, but with professional and compassionate staff, the use of technology to bring down costs and a commitment to provide an open and accessible service, Access Legal from Shoosmiths will remain in the forefront of providing a much needed service.
be a time consuming
or expensive
process"
Lucy Thomas, Associate
