MANAGING SOMeone
else's AFFAIRS
Managing someone’s affairs basically refers to looking after everything in their life, aside from the actual practical job of caring for them directly. It differs from role to role, but caring for someone could include some or all of the following things:
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• looking after their bank accounts, savings, investments, property, and other financial affairs
• buying and selling property on their behalf
• claiming welfare benefits on their behalf
• keeping on top of bills, rent, fuel costs, council tax, health care costs
and every day spending on their behalf
• deciding where they live and making sure their home
is safe and that they are comfortable
• making decisions about their day-to-day personal care; how and who
their practical care tasks are carried out by
• managing their health care, making choices on their behalf now and/or in the future
• organising care for their children and/or pets if they should lose the capacity to do so themselves
As you can see, managing someone else’s affairs can be very full on, as you juggle all sorts of different responsibilities – and that’s before you even think about adding your own life and your own affairs into the equation! The good news is that there are various help and support options available to you, which we have listed below.
When to manage someone else’s affairs?
There are many reasons you may have to manage the affairs of someone you care for, either in the short or longer term. It may become a permanent part of your caring role if the person you care for doesn’t have the mental or physical capacity to manage alone, or it might be temporary them while they recover from an accident, illness or injury.
Every caring situation is unique, and if you are unsure as to whether someone needs help with their affairs or not, start by simply asking. If they are not well enough to understand or you feel that they are unable to make the decision themselves, you may find it useful to get a free carer’s assessment via your local authority.
The Mental Capacity Act
When it comes to making decisions for someone, regardless of the situation, it can be tricky to know if they have the mental capacity to decide for themselves or not. When caring is important to carefully assess the person’s understanding of a situation before making any decisions for them.
The Mental Capacity Act of 2005 states that someone’s ability to choose for
themselves is based on four principles:
Are they able to understand all of the relevant information of the decision?
Are they able to retain all of the information long enough to make the decision?
Are they able to understand and weigh up all of the different options available to them before making a decision?
Are they able, in any way, to communicate their decision?
If the answer is no to any of the above, and you can provide significant proof of this, only then they might be considered to lack the mental capacity to make the decision for themselves.
It is important to remember that someone’s ability to make a decision can change over time, and that some people are able to understand and make some decisions, but not others.
Never assume that someone does not have the capacity to make a decision. If in doubt, check with your health care professional.
Things to consider
The most important thing to do when making decisions for someone else, is to always keep their best interests at heart. There are many things to consider when weighing up a decision on someone else’s behalf, from their current situation, to effects on their future, to anything they have communicated to you in the past.
You should also consider their feelings, beliefs, values, and relationships. It is important that any decisions made on someone else’s behalf take into consideration their best interests, although close family and a carer’s view may also be consulted.
Any action you choose should not restrict the person’s rights where possible, and you should never make an assumption about their quality of life. You might want to consider the possibility that they might regain their capacity, and if so, whether the decision can be put off until they can make the choice for themselves.