The treatment offered to elderly patients sometimes leads to conflict between their relatives and medical staff. If no agreement can be reached, the Court of Protection can be called on to resolve disputes, as in a recent case involving an elderly man with end stage dementia. The man was 77 years old and had been
Health care professionals are to offer patients more advice about reducing the risk of developing dementia. It’s estimated that over 850,000 people are living with the disease in the UK with little public understanding of how to reduce the risk. The NHS Health Check programme already covers a wide range of services designed to detect
Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a new drive to use technology and artificial intelligence to tackle debilitating diseases like dementia. Speaking at the beginning of Dementia Week, organised by the Alzheimer’s Society, Mrs May said: “The United Kingdom will use data, artificial intelligence and innovation to transform the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of
A businessman has failed to overturn his father’s will, so he could inherit farming land and other substantial assets. The High Court heard that the father had built up a farming and haulage business during his working life and acquired several parcels of land. The son worked for the business and lived for free in
The main residence inheritance tax allowance has by risen £25,000, reducing the death duty burden for thousands of families. The allowance was introduced in April last year and was set at £100,000. In April this year it rose to £125,000 and will rise to £175,000 by 2020. It only applies to a person’s home, not
A woman has been granted an interim instalment from the estate of her deceased husband to ease her financial struggles. The woman had been married to a wealthy businessman. When he died, she sought to administer his estate. However, the deceased man’s son from his first marriage began proceedings to replace her as the administrator.
The government has announced it’s providing a £300m fund to help the 10 million Britons alive today who can expect to live to 100 or more. The extra money will include grants for research into age-related illnesses such as dementia. The ‘healthy ageing programme’ will drive the development of new products and services to help
A 91-year-old man has won a longstanding legal battle to be allowed to buy the home he shared with his partner. The couple had lived together in the home for 20 years. After the partner died, the man discovered she had made a will leaving all her estate to her daughter and nothing to him.
A review of inheritance tax thresholds could make it easier for parents to give their children money to buy a home, fund their education or set up a business. Currently, the maximum sum that can be gifted tax free is £3,000 a year. Any additional funds are subject to 40% inheritance tax if the donor
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has started giving refunds to people who were overcharged when setting up lasting powers of attorney (LPA). It has set aside £90m to cover the cost of the refunds. Between April 2013 and March 2017, the operating costs of the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) came down as more