Advanced choice documents

[Alpav]

Just wanted to check if anyone has had any use of these when planning for a possible bout of illness? For example, risk areas for me when unwell are overspending and excessive use of my phone. I don’t want to give a relative a financial power of attorney as that’s giving up too much power for me as - I think - it would also be binding when I’m well. Thanks so much 🙏

[Jocelyn_at_APP Partner APP]

Hi Alpav,

Thanks for reaching out to us.

I don’t have any experience of this but I think there may be well-being templates that you can download and give to your care coordinator and family expressing what your triggers are, signs to look out for and what you would like to happen.

I’m sure others here will be able to share more information and there experiences.

Take care,

Jocelyn

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hello Alpav,

I had an advanced decision as part of my planning for a second baby, setting out my wishes and preferences if I became unwell again with PP. This also included signs and symptoms to look out for, what medication and support helped etc. It was something I had help putting together during my pregnancy, the mental health nurse had a template and we just filled in the sections. As Jocelyn has said with wellbeing plans too, there will be templates available online (search ‘advance decision’ or ‘living will’), or if you’re under a mental health team they might also have a template you could use (and perhaps help you in putting it together) if this is something you'd like to put in place.

Appointing a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is much more in depth as you say, allowing someone to make decisions on your behalf. Looking at the LPA for financial decisions, you can choose to appoint your ‘attorney’ to be able to make decisions for you when you have mental capacity (you must give consent each time), or only when you are lacking mental capacity. Your attorney should always act in your best interests.

There is some information on gov.uk about LPAs as below.

gov.uk/power-of-attorney

gov.uk/government/publicati...

I hope this is helpful. Hopefully others may have more experience of this that they can share with you.

Best wishes,

Jenny x

[Alpav in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

Thanks so much- that’s really helpful

[Snowy122 Volunteer]

Hi Alpav,

Its great that you are recognising and putting a plan in place for when you become unwell . I myself went through stages of using my phone too much I was aware of doing it but when your in the house and you have your phone you start looking at something before you know it your sitting nearly an hour or more , I deleted my facebook page for a little while , came off some of the other APPS was hard but i knew i needed to do it ..

Shopping was a big thing not designer shopping but again if i was out and about to pass time i would run into Primark and i would be thinking oh that looks nice and buy it .. Now i ask myself 3 questions : Do I need it or Do I want it? and do I love it?

This was my journey and a few things i put in place for myself with the shopping when i felt the urge i would of purchase a small item like nail polish, lipstick or went into my favourite coffee shop and buy a hot chocolate ..

I understand that you don't want to give a relative that power.. But remember there is other choices out there and it is making the right ones for yourself and its what suits you ..

But its brilliant that you are putting a plan in place and you are aware that you dont want a relative to have that power.

[MotherOfBears]

I put together a document that included things like signs I was becoming unwell, preferences for where to be treated etc.

It gave me a sense of security knowing it was there