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Looking after someone’s affairs

A staff member assisting a person with reading a document

There may come a time when you may need to manage the affairs on behalf of the person you are looking after, or you may need to consider how to plan for their future. 

This can include:

  • looking after their financial affairs (bank/ saving accounts)
  • selling property on their behalf
  • deciding where they live and their personal care

The ability to make decisions on behalf of someone else depends on if the person can make their own decision or not. This is known as their mental capacity.

If a person lacks mental capacity, they may not be able to make decisions about certain things. 

Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is designed to protect and empower people who may lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. It applies to people aged 16 and over.

The act makes it clear who can take decisions, in which situations and how they should go about this. It also allows people to plan for a time when they are unable to make decisions in the future.

Examples of people who may lack capacity include those with:

  • a severe learning disability
  • dementia
  • a mental health condition
  • brain injury or stroke

Find out more on the Mental Capacity Act

Acting on someone’s behalf

When the person you care for needs help managing their money and other affairs, they may wish to consider asking you or someone else to become their appointee, deputy, or power of attorney.

The difference between power of attorney, deputyship and appointeeship

  • A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorisation to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter. This can only be applied for when someone has capacity to agree to it.
  • When acting as a Deputy, the responsibility is to manage all the individual’s financial affairs, which would include all sources of income and liabilities, assets such as property and valuables, pensions and all savings. This would only be the case if the individual is assessed as lacking capacity of looking after their own affairs.
  • Appointees are only responsible for looking after an individual’s benefits and a small amount of savings.

Further information

To learn more about Deputyships for Parents/Carers, you can view the guide provided by our charity partners, Bexley Voice.

To learn more about lasting power of attorney visit the Alzheimer’s Society.

Please see the GOV.UK pages linked below for more information on the following:

Emergency and future planning 

When you care for someone, there may be times when something unexpected happens and you need help to care for your loved one.

There are a few unexpected things that could happen that mean you need help. 

For example, they might be taken ill, or your car might break down. You might have family problems to deal with that prevent you from carrying out your normal caring responsibilities.

For more information about how to plan for these events, visit Bexley Carers’ Emergency and Future Planning page.