A YORK law firm has brought together a multi-disciplinary legal team to support families living with dementia.

Harrowells Solicitors, which has an office in St Saviourgate as well as branches in Thirsk, Easingwold and Pocklington, has created its Care, Health & Wealth Management Team, bringing together 12 lawyers from difference disciplines.

The division, believed to be among the most comprehensive in the North of England, has been officially launched by Harrowells to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week.

The team will be offering legal support to individuals, families, care and nursing organisations through its specialist lawyers from departments including private client, commercial, employment, residential and commercial property, personal injury and medical negligence.

Harrowells partner and lead member of the team, Hudda Morgan, who specialises in services to the elderly, said: “The challenges involved when you, or a relative, is incapacitated through a condition of this kind are complex and daunting. People cannot become experts overnight which is why we believe that providing a comprehensive, joined-up service is best.”

The team’s services include advising on setting up and dealing with legal frameworks such as Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection and Advance Directives; advice on care funding; the legal aspects of wealth management where funds are managed to pay for care; employment advice for care organisations and individual families on hiring carers.

Two members of the team - Sally Edwards and Dawn Moore - have trained to become Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Champions and are involved in an initiative to make York a dementia friendly community.