ELHSCP joins a nationwide effort to promote future planning of seeking power of attorney for your loved ones sooner rather than later.
East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) joined a nationwide effort to encourage local residents to "start the conversation" regarding their future care on Power of Attorney Day, 22 April 2026. The focus of this campaign is about highlighting how vital it is for people across East Lothian to have legal plans in place.
Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf should you lose the capacity to do so. Many may wrongly assume that family members automatically have the right to manage their affairs, but without a formal POA, this is not the case.
ELHSCP encouraged families to use the following tips from the national campaign to start these important discussions at home:
- The best time to think about POA is 'sooner rather than later,' as you must have the mental capacity to grant POA.
- Try to bring up the topic during general discussions about future hopes, wishes, or when updating other documents like a Will.
- Try to avoid bringing it up out of the blue. Mentioning a recent news story, film or a friend's experience can be a helpful way to open the dialogue sensitively.
- Think of POA like a fire extinguisher - you hope you never have to use it, but you’re glad it's there.
Without POA you might be delayed in hospital, have no access to bank accounts and have to go through lengthy guardianship processes for someone to be able to make decisions on your behalf.
Fiona Wilson, Chief Officer of ELHSCP commented :
"We want to ensure that every individual in East Lothian feels empowered and in control of their future. Getting this in place early gives you piece of mind that your wishes will be honoured if the unexpected happens and avoids extra stress at a difficult time. POA may be a temporary measure, if you're going into hospital and need help with everyday financial tasks like paying your bills or it may be part of long-term planning. It’s important to remember that Power of Attorney isn't just for the elderly, it’s an insurance policy for adults of all ages.”
ELHSCP want to ensure that information regarding POA is accessible to everyone. If you feel that you are ready to take the next step in finding out more about POA you can find more info on:
www.mygov.scot/power-of-attorney - a comprehensive step by step which will walk you through each step of becoming a POA in Scotland
www.coel.org.uk – Our local partners at Carers of East Lothian (CoEL) who run a free monthly clinic to support local carers with writing and registering for a POA.