Edinburgh firms drive 56 per cent increase in POA activity during Dementia Trust Campaign

Sandra McDonald

The 2026 pilot of ‘POA Month’ in Edinburgh delivered a measurable impact with participating firms reporting a 56 per cent increase in POA activity compared with available data from February 2025.

In total, Edinburgh offices at Ralph Sayer, Mcdougall Mcqueen, Blackadders and Balfour and Manson supported 151 people with their powers of attorney during the course of the campaign. Each firm pledged to raise awareness among clients and donate 10 per cent of their power of attorney income to The Dementia Trust, collectively raising more than £7,000.

Dylan Harper, chair at The Dementia Trust, said: “These results are incredible and demonstrate what can be achieved when the legal sector and charities work together towards a shared goal. I am delighted that the campaign has made a real difference for families across Edinburgh and I look forward to building on this success to make an even greater impact as we prepare for Planning Ahead 2027.”

Firms gained access to bespoke dementia and capacity awareness training, developed and delivered by Sandra McDonald, chair emeritus at Dementia Trust and former public guardian for Scotland, alongside dementia expert Professor June Andrews. The training provided practical guidance on working with clients and families navigating capacity concerns.

Ms McDonald said: “Planning Ahead is about giving firms the tools, confidence and shared language to start those conversations earlier and make discussions about power of attorney routine. Fewer than one in ten adults in Scotland currently has a registered power of attorney, if we can shift that even slightly, it will relieve a huge amount of stress for families.”