NHS Highland and The Highland Council have today launched Highland Power of Attorney Month, a joint public awareness campaign running throughout June 2026 to encourage every adult across the Highland area to consider putting a Power of Attorney (PoA) in place.
The campaign is the first of its kind in Highland and comes as national research reveals a significant gap between public awareness of Power of Attorney and the number of people who actually have one. Research by the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement, published in March 2025, found that fewer than one in ten adults across Great Britain have an up-to-date PoA in place, and 45% have never thought about putting one in place at all.
In Scotland, a Power of Attorney can be set up from the age of 16 under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. It is a legal document that allows a person to appoint someone they trust to make decisions on their behalf, covering finances and property, health and welfare, or both. Without one, families can face significant delays, legal costs and considerable distress if a loved one loses capacity unexpectedly.
Councillor David Fraser, Chair of Highland Council’s Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Committee said: “Planning ahead can feel daunting, but putting a Power of Attorney in place is one of the most practical and caring decisions any of us can make. It gives you confidence that, should the unexpected happen, someone you trust will be able to make decisions in your best interests. I would encourage everyone, whatever your age, to take a moment this June to think about your own arrangements and to have conversations with family members. Taking action now can provide real peace of mind for you and reassurance for those closest to you.”
Arlene Johnstone, Chief Officer, Highland Health and Social Care Partnership said: “Every week across Highland, health and social care teams see first-hand what can happen when Power of Attorney is not in place. Hospital discharges are delayed, families are left in difficult and sometimes impossible situations, and the people we are caring for cannot always have their wishes respected as fully as we would want. This campaign is our opportunity to help prevent that, and to reach people before a crisis happens, rather than after.”
Why Power of Attorney, and why now?
The Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement research, which included a nationally representative survey of 1,005 adults conducted in November 2024, found that awareness and understanding of Power of Attorney remains worryingly low across all age groups. Only 13% of adults said they know a lot about Power of Attorney, rising to just 18% among those aged 50 to 69, the age group most likely to be caring for someone.
Crucially, the research also found that the picture can change quickly when people receive clear information. When presented with a short explanatory statement about Power of Attorney, 77% agreed that it made setting one up seem a sensible step. The Highland campaign is designed to act as exactly that nudge, providing accessible and reassuring information that helps people understand what PoA is, why it matters, and how straightforward it can be to put one in place.
In Scotland, a PoA can be set up online through the Office of the Public Guardian, and it is not always necessary to use a solicitor, though professional advice is recommended. Despite this, research found that 63% of people believe a solicitor is required, and many overestimate the cost involved.
The Standard Life research also identified three key life moments when people are most likely to consider putting PoA in place: being diagnosed with an illness (68%); making a will (63%); and retiring from work (48%). The Highland campaign will seek to reach people at these points and to broaden that conversation to include all adults, regardless of age or health status.
A particular importance for carers
Unpaid carers are among those most likely to be directly affected by the absence of a Power of Attorney. Research by Carers UK found that 80% of carers in their network are already doing everyday banking on behalf of the person they care for, yet only 35% had a financial Power of Attorney in place. The Standard Life research also found that people aged 55 to 59 are the age group most likely to be carers in the population, yet this is precisely the group where PoA awareness is often low.
NHS Highland and The Highland Council are encouraging carers, and the people they care for, to use Highland Power of Attorney Month as a prompt to have this conversation and take the first steps towards getting a PoA in place.
Find out more
Information about Power of Attorney in Scotland, including how to set one up, is available from:
Follow the campaign throughout June on social media at #HighlandPOA26