Issue No: 1/2010 - MINDS

Planning for Tomorrow Today
Text by Office of the Public Guardian, MCYS
Our ability to make decisions
can be weakened by a severe
accident or illness. With the
Mental Capacity Act, the elderly
in particular can benefit from
advanced planning for such an
eventuality.
63-year-old retiree Lim Chong Tong
is concerned that he may suffer from
dementia one day and lose his ability
to make decisions. He planned to
get his youngest son Boon Keong,
a bank employee, to manage his
financial affairs for him should that
happen.
His worry is not unfounded as
geriatric illnesses like Alzheimer’s
disease has become more prevalent
in Singapore.
Our proportion of senior citizens
aged 65 and above is estimated to
reach 18.7% in 2030 and according
to a study by the United Nations,
Singapore would be the world’s
fourth oldest country by 2050. These
forecasts, on top of the nation’s low
fertility rate, exert mounting pressure
on our younger generation to take
care of their elders.
About the Act
In line with the government’s
efforts to develop strong social
infrastructure to support this greying
trend, the Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports
introduced the Mental Capacity Act
that was passed by Parliament in
September 2008.
Under the Act, individuals aged 21
years or older (known as the “donor”)
and who have the mental capacity
to make a Lasting Power of Attorney
(LPA) can appoint one or more
persons (known as the “donee”)
whom they trust to make decisions
for them in the event they lose their
mental capacity.
With such flexibility, Chong Tong can
benefit from the ideal arrangement of
appointing his eldest daughter Swee
Lin, who is meticulous and caring,
to look after his personal welfare
matters, while Boon Keong handles
his financial matters.
In order to authorise both children as
his legal deputies decision-making
proxies, Chong Tong needs to make
and register the LPA with the Office
of the Public Guardian (OPG).
He can also specify in his LPA the
authorities that each of them have
with regard to the respective areas
they are appointed to act on his
behalf and the type of decisions they
can make, such as managing his
bank account, deciding where he is
to live, giving consent to his medical
treatment.
This allows him to indicate his
preferences and in so doing, provide
clarity for all the parties involved, so
that they know when to act and for
what purposes. Most importantly, all
these arrangements will give Chong
Tong and his family a peace of mind.
As unexpected crisis can befall at
any time, it is wise to take charge
and plan ahead like Chong Tong.
To find out more about the Mental
Capacity Act, visit the OPG website
at www.publicguardian.gov.sg.
You can also call the OPG at
1800 226 6222 or email to
enquiry@publicguardian.gov.sg for
queries or information on upcoming
activities.
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