Older people need to make plans to protect their future interests in the event that they start to lose mental abilities, a nursing conference has been told.

According to retired law commissioner, Patricia Rickard Clarke, making such plans is as important as making a will.

"Older people need to be empowered to take measures such as making advance healthcare directives to state their wishes about their care and appointing an attorney or friend to manage their affairs and protect their interests if their faculties fail. People should be advised not to wait," she told the annual conference of the All-Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association (AIGNA).

She pointed out that one in five people over the age of 80 is diagnosed with dementia and with more people living longer, the need to make advanced care directives ‘is becoming extremely important'.

"Indeed everyone, regardless of age, should make one, as any one of us can be incapacitated by stroke, illness or accident at any time," she pointed out.

By making such plans, a person will also reduce their risk of suffering financial abuse, as well as other types of abuse, later on.

Ms Rickard Clarke told the conference about upcoming legislation, due next year, which will help people with mental capacity issues to take part in decisions that affect their lives.

"The legislation will cover 250,000 people, both elderly and others with intellectual disabilities, who may lack capacity, so we have to start doing our homework and getting the message out now," she said.

Also speaking at the conference, UK dementia expert, Prof Jan Dewing, emphasised that the number of people with dementia is ‘only going to increase'.

"Our workplaces, homes and communities have to become more dementia friendly and carers have to be aware of how they can create better environments to help people maximise their potential," she said.

AIGNA represents nurses working with older people and promotes healthy ageing and wellbeing. Its conference was held in Galway.

For more information on dementia, see our Alzheimer's Clinic here