Hilda's Story

Hilda was born in Hackney on 28 June 1912. In 1930 when Hilda was 18 she was planning her wedding. By the time she was 28 she had four children and was coping with a war. She got evacuated down to the south coast of England where she started volunteering with the local Women's Voluntary Service. Her husband, John joined the Home Guard as he was a research chemist with a reserved occupation. John recalled all that marching wasn't good for him and he much preferred to be in his lab testing out the latest chemical designs. Hilda died at home in April 2008 having said that's where she wanted be.

Throughout her life she considered what might happen and prepared for it. She didn't always get it right, but at least she knew she needed to do something about it. 

PLAN 

Planning for the future is complex as Hilda often found, especially managing her finances. Hilda appointed an attorney under a Lasting Power of Attorney to manage her finances and make health decisions for her. She also set up a trust and placed her house into it. Towards the end of her life she had dementia. Her financial affairs where then managed by her attorney which she was OK with. She still had quite a bit to say about the care she wanted, even right at the end. 

PREPARE 

Hilda took advice and prepared for what might come. She made a will with a trust in it and her Lasting Power of Attorney. Hilda grew up in an time when camping was all the rage. Her and her family camped in many parts of the UK. Every time she went camping, she planned and prepared. The big thing with camping is not getting wet, so Hilda prepared, just in case. She spent a good afternoon re-proofing just in case of wet and stormy weather. She told a story about one very blustery night when she remembers hanging onto the frame of the tent just in case it blew away. When not camping Hilda spent her later years caring for her home and inviting in lots of visitors.

Hilda said wanted to die at home. Despite social services insisting she moved into a care home that's not what she wanted. So her attorney said so on her behalf. She died at home late one evening in April 2008. If Hilda hadn't made a Lasting Power of Attorney she would have had to make a Deputyship. Deputyships are where someone lacks mental capacity and needs their finances managed. 

PROTECT

Not everyone's like Hilda. Many people hope things will be OK. Mostly they are but there's a but, what if that's not what I want. 

If someone has dementia or a another cognitive condition and cannot decide for themselves, they are at risk from someone taking advantage of them. 

Family disputes can arise if someone lacks mental capacity and how should they be cared for or where they should live.

Hilda's family like most families had views on where she should live. Importantly they wanted to protect her. They did respect Hilda's views and used her Lasting Power of Attorney accordingly to ensure she stayed at home, because that's what she wanted. Towards the end of his life caring for her and bringing her meals became a regular daily event. Her favourite dish being fish and chips followed by cooked fruit covered in custard. She taught her family also to prepare. So the fruit she had for dinner had been picked earlier on during the season, carefully frozen and ready for her meals.

SOLUTION

Hilda decided she wanted to make a Lasting Power of Attorney, so she did, both a Financial and Health & Welfare one. And it wasn't just because her grandson wrote the textbook on Lasting Powers of Attorney. She decided herself and that's important, her autonomy doing what she wanted to do. She also made a will. In her will she set up a trust so she could leave money to her grandchildren.

Hilda prepared. She thought about what she wanted to do, planned it out as she wanted. She did need a bit of help at the end with her finances, but that's when her lasting power of attorney was most used.

Ask yourself - what do I want in my later life. Prepare for it and have a plan B. Plan B's usually include making a Lasting Power of Attorney and certainly updating your will. Hilda thought about it and she planned, she planned well and enjoyed her life. Safely knowing that if she wasn't able to cope then she had appointed trusted family members to help her and make decisions for her.

Hilda: born in Hackney on 28 June 1912 - died in Enfield on 29 April 2008.