Whilst estate planning is commonly thought to occur later in life, circumstances can unfortunately arise which require it to be brought forward.
Drawing public attention to this, recent media reports covered the case of 31-year-old ski instructor being diagnosed with dementia.
Described as one of the youngest cases that doctors have ever witnessed, Becky Barletta was diagnosed with the hereditary condition in 2016 and has been told she has just years to live.
She now also requires care 24 hours a day.
Her family described the deteriorating impact that the condition has had on Becky, with her sister Sophie explaining the ordeal they have been through in such a short space of time.
She told the Cambridge News: “She was outdoorsy and outgoing. Everybody loved Becks, she was beautiful. She still is.
“They say the younger the patient the more rapid it can be and it has been very rapid.
“There is not much of our old Becky left. She repeats the same stories to us and says inappropriate things. I find it so sad to watch.”
In order to raise donations for further research on the condition, the family have recently started a fundraising campaign, aiming to minimise the suffering of others affected by dementia in future.
Whilst cases such as Becky’s are upsetting, they also draw public attention to the importance of making plans for the future.
The uncertainty of life means that it’s impossible to know what circumstances we will be faced with, with Becky’s story being a stark reminder of this.
As the importance of drafting wills and lasting powers of attorney are rarely covered in the media, it’s important to utilise them as a platform to encourage awareness among clients.
In addition to providing the public with peace of mind, putting plans into place at an early stage mitigates the risk of unforeseen life circumstances resulting in decisions being made that are not in line with their wishes.
Despite it being difficult to discuss, bringing forward later life plans means that clients will be able to consolidate their wishes, regardless of what should happen in future.
