How power of attorney lapses

BIG MISUNDERSTANDING: WHEN IT EXPIRES >>> Does not apply after the principal becomes mentally incapacitated as person can no longer give consent.

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As the older generation gets older than the generation before them could even dream to reach, the younger generations have to step in and look after older family members with diseases.

South Africa is facing a new crisis: dementia, Alzheimer's and stroke-related cognitive decline are rising fast, revealing gaps in awareness and leaving families financially unprepared for the long-term care that follows.

Alzheimer's South Africa estimates more than 190 000 South Africans are currently living with dementia, a figure expected to increase sharply as the population ages, mirroring global trends.

Worldwide, someone develops dementia every three seconds, with the fastest growth in developing regions. Stroke remains a major contributor to cognitive decline in SA, with research published in BioMed Central's BMC Public Health showing nearly 60% of stroke survivors in sub-Saharan Africa experience cognitive impairment affecting memory, reasoning and decision-making abilities.

Yet very little is said about the financial consequences when someone can no longer make decisions for themselves.