Lasting lesson to get affairs in order

WHEN only half the groceries ordered online by a customer turned up, instead of an easy fix the problem suddenly became more complicated.

- By MAISHA FROST

Since the onset of his mum’s dementia, son Chris Collins has become her full-time carer but has continued using her existing accounts.

That has meant he hasn’t addressed the legal permissions he would inevitably need as her dependency increased.

Central to that is a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and when Chris tried to sort out the missing shopping, the supermarket only had his mum’s details. Because of data protection (GDPR) rules it said it couldn’t help.

"My mum’s memory is poor so she can’t reallly communicate with strangers and the shop won’t budge,” Chris told Crusader.

Now with support, the full £90 order has been restored. The experience has also proved valuable in bringing home to Chris the importance of having an LPA.