Carers Scotland and Standard Life have joined forces to launch the first ever UK-wide Power of Attorney Day which will take place on Wednesday 22 April 2026. The initiative aims to raise awareness and understanding of powers of attorney and to encourage more people to put them in place.
Despite the importance of powers of attorney, many people delay setting them up due to myths and misconceptions about what they are and how they work. The campaign, part of a UK wide initiative run by Carers UK, will tackle these misunderstandings and highlight how having power of attorney can make a vital difference – particularly for the 627,700 unpaid carers in Scotland who support someone who is seriously ill, older, or disabled.
A power of attorney is a legal document that can ensure a person’s wishes are respected, should they be in a position where they are no longer able to express this directly. For carers, having power of attorney in place can provide clarity and avoid stressful decision-making during difficult emergency situations. In Scotland, a Power of Attorney (PoA) allows an individual to appoint a trusted person to make decisions on their behalf. Anyone aged 16 or over can set up a Power of Attorney, but it must be done while they still have mental capacity to make their own decisions.
Having these in place provides reassurance and peace of mind, reducing additional stress during challenging times.
To find out more about Power of Attorney Day, visit https://powerofattorneyday.org.uk/
For more information about Power of Attorney and how to make one visit https://www.mygov.scot/power-of-attorney
If you have any further questions about Power of Attorney Day, please email powerofattorneyday@carersuk.org
