Why do LPAs Matter?

14th August 2025

Updated: Friday 30th January 2026

Why do LPAs Matter? Planning ahead is not an admission that something will go wrong. It is a practical step to ensure your wishes are respected if illness, an accident or a sudden change leaves you unable to speak for yourself. Life can change quickly, and decisions do not pause when it does. The Office of the Public Guardian’s Your Voice, Your Decision campaign highlights a simple reality: without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, choices about your health, care and finances may be made without your involvement, at precisely the moment your voice should carry the most weight.

LPAs are often misunderstood as something only older people need. In reality, anyone can lose mental capacity due to illness, an accident, or a sudden medical event. The campaign aims to change how people across England and Wales think about planning ahead.

What is the Your Voice, Your Decision campaign about?

The campaign focuses on helping people understand that a Lasting Power of Attorney is a way of staying in control, not giving it up. It encourages adults of all ages to think about who they would trust to speak for them if they could not make decisions themselves.

By sharing real life examples and practical information, the OPG is helping to remove fear and confusion around LPAs. The message is clear. Making an LPA is an act of protection for you and for the people who care about you.

Where is the campaign making a difference?

Community outreach has taken place in areas such as North Wales, Lancashire, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and parts of Yorkshire and the North East. These regions were chosen because awareness and uptake of LPAs had historically been lower.

The impact is measurable. In 2024 and 2025, more than 1.3 million LPAs were registered. This represents a significant increase compared to figures from just a few years earlier. More people are recognising the value of planning ahead before a crisis happens.

Why does a Lasting Power of Attorney matter in real life?

When someone loses mental capacity without an LPA, families are often surprised to learn they cannot automatically step in. Decisions about medical treatment, care arrangements, or finances may require an application to the Court of Protection. This process can take months and involve considerable stress and expense.

A Health and Welfare LPA allows trusted attorneys to make decisions about care and treatment. A Property and Financial Affairs LPA ensures bills are paid, bank accounts are managed, and financial stability is maintained. Together, they provide clarity and continuity at a difficult time.

How does an LPA ensure your wishes are respected?

An LPA is created while you still have full mental capacity. This means you choose who acts for you and you can include preferences or instructions about how decisions should be made. Your values, beliefs, and priorities remain central, even if you can no longer communicate them yourself.

This is why the campaign emphasises voice and decision. An LPA keeps both firmly with you.

How Power of Attorney Online supports this awareness

Power of Attorney Online was built to make LPAs simpler and more accessible. Many people delay setting one up because they believe it will be complicated or expensive. Our guided online service removes those barriers by offering clear steps, expert checks, and transparent pricing.

By aligning with the OPG’s goal of wider awareness, we help more people turn understanding into action.

Why acting now makes sense

An LPA can only be made while you have mental capacity. Waiting until something goes wrong is often too late. Whether you are in your thirties or your seventies, planning ahead means peace of mind for you and reassurance for your family.

Your voice matters. Your decisions matter. Setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney today helps ensure both are protected for the future.