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• Mental Capacity Act

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This act will become law in April 2007.  It provides the legal framework for making decisions on behalf of individuals who lack the mental capacity to make particular decisions for themselves.

It will affect about two million people with mental ill health, dementia, brain injuries and people with learning difficulties or disabilities in areas of their lives such as:

• health and welfare decisions
• medical treatment
• finances, including property
• choices about the most appropriate place to live, for example, if full time residential or nursing care is needed.

It also helps people to plan ahead in case they may not be able to make important decisions in the future.

If you want to find out more, download the leaflet below or take a look at the related links.  You can also get further information from your social worker, nurse or doctor.

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