Ageing Parent
← All chapter sources

The Rota · sources

Chapter 15: When Your Parent's Capacity Changes

4 sources. Checked September 2026.

Every claim in this chapter is traced to the source behind it. Below is each one, numbered as it appears in the book, with a link that opens the original.

  1. Alzheimer's Society, How many people have dementia in the UK? (accessed 28 August 2026): an estimated 982,000 people are living with dementia in the UK, and more than a third of them do not have a formal diagnosis.
    www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/how-many-people-have-dementia-uk
  2. Mental Capacity Act 2005, s. 2(1)–(3) and s. 3(1) (legislation.gov.uk PDF, read directly): a person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if, at the material time, they are unable to understand, retain, use or weigh, or communicate a decision, because of an impairment of or disturbance in the functioning of the mind or brain; this cannot be established merely from age, appearance or a condition or behaviour that might lead others to make unjustified assumptions.
    www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/section/2
  3. Mental Capacity Act 2005, s. 4, and in particular s. 4(7)(b) (legislation.gov.uk, read directly). A best-interests determination must not be made merely on the basis of the person's age or appearance (s. 4(1)). Whoever makes it must consider all relevant circumstances, and must consider the person's past and present wishes and feelings so far as reasonably ascertainable (s. 4(2) and s. 4(6)). Section 4(7) then provides that the decision-maker "must take into account, if it is practicable and appropriate to consult them, the views of ... (b) anyone engaged in caring for the person or interested in his welfare ... as to what would be in the person's best interests". Read precisely, the duty is to take those views into account, with consultation as the mechanism rather than a free-standing obligation, and it is qualified by both practicability and appropriateness.
    www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/9/section/4
  4. Care Act 2014, s. 67(2), (3)(a), (5) and (6) (legislation.gov.uk PDF, read directly): a local authority must arrange an independent advocate for certain assessments and plan reviews only where no appropriate person is available; a person is appropriate if they are not providing care or treatment professionally or for remuneration, and either the individual consents to their involvement, or, where the individual lacks capacity to consent, the authority is satisfied that involvement is in the individual's best interests.
    www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/section/67

Sources for the other chapters are listed at ageingparent.co.uk/sources. Free guides on the topics in this book are at ageingparent.co.uk.