OLDER people in Oxford have been given free legal advice to help them plan for what happens if they develop dementia.

Dr John Davis, chief scientific officer at the Alzheimer’s Research UK Drug Discovery Institute, joined Oxford solicitor Kirsty Southgate on Saturday for the event at the Quaker Meeting House.

The pair spoke to the people gathered about the importance of dementia research and about legal issues affecting people as they get older.

Dr Davis said: “There are currently over 850,000 people living with dementia across the UK, yet there are still no treatments that can slow or prevent the development of the condition."

Ms Southgate addressed the audience about a range of legal issues that affect people as they get older.

She spoke about the necessity of making a will, the importance of having a Power of Attorney, and inheritance tax.

She said: “The population in Britain is ageing, which means that dementia is affecting more and more people.

"It is essential that older people are informed about important legal issues and know how to update their will. Older people should always have access to expert guidance when it comes to these important legal issues.”