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He is among 100 people who have appointed proxies to make decisions on their behalf
 HIS friends have called him morbid.
After all, at age 40 and in good health, why would he consider losing his mental capacity or even death?
But it is precisely because he believes in living life to the fullest that Mr Low Sze Wee, a civil servant, has signed up for a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), and appointed his younger brother to make decisions on his behalf should he lose his mental capacity.
This means that if he becomes mentally incapacitated, his brother can legally decide on things such as personal welfare, property and money matters on his
behalf.
Said Mr Low: “I am not a pessimistic person. I just believe in being proactive and this includes thinking about how I would like to live should I get old, sick, or in the event that I lose my mental capacity and cannot look after myself.”
The Mental Capacity Act came into effect on Mar 1 this year. It enables adult Singaporeans to appoint proxy decision maker(s) or donees to act in their best interests should they lose their mental capacity.
The appointment is made through an LPA, which has to be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian ( OPG). (See report below.)
Mr Low is among more than 100 Singaporeans who have signed up for the LPA since the act was passed.
Close to 90 per cent appointed their family members to be their proxy decision-makers.
Mr Low, who is single, said his decision was strongly influenced by his childhood experience of seeing both his late paternal grandparents lose both their physical mobility and mental capacity in their old age.
His family had rallied to take care of his grandfather, who had suffered a stroke, and his grandmother, who had Parkinson’s disease.
Recalled Mr Low: “Even though we tried to give them the best level of care possible, I saw that they had very little quality of life in terms of decision-making.
“They were fully dependent on my parents and relatives to make all decisions regarding the way they would live.”
His younger brother, Mr Low Sze Gin, 33, a deputy director at the Monetary Authority Singapore, said: “I felt touched that my brother would place such trust and confidence in me.
“But I wasn’t surprised that he would take such a step as it is in keeping with his character. He is a person who likes to plan ahead and cares for his family.”
Mr Low intends to discuss this with his elder brother soon.
“Although we are very close , it is not an easy topic to bring up,” he said.
He added that his elder brother’s decision has led him to consider registering with the OPG for the LPA as well.
Difficult
He understands such a decision may be more difficult for older Singaporeans.
He said: “ They may feel that the possibility of losing their mental capacity is more real.”
This is however not the case for 61-year-old Mr Zafrul Alam, a maritime chief engineer, who signed up for the LPA last month.
He appointed his wife, 54, and three daughters, aged 23, 26 and 32, to make decisions on his behalf.
Said Mr Zafrul: “I am healthy now but accidents can happen. At this age, it is best to be realistic and think ahead.
“Should I be mentally incapacitated one day, I will not care any more what happens to me. But I want to make things easier for my family by giving them the authority to handle my financial matters.”
Response has been positive
PUBLIC response to the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) has been positive.
Associate Professor Rathi Mahendran, a Public Guardian board member, said the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has started a public outreach and education
programme regarding the LPA.
Said Prof Mahendran: “Most do appreciate the intrinsic social value of the act in protecting the dignity of individuals, particularly when they lose their mental capacity and become vulnerable.”
According to the Ministry of Health, about 20,000 Singaporeans are suffering from dementia. It is estimated that the number could increase to 45,000 by 2020.
Mental health problems
The National Mental Health Survey conducted in Singapore in 2004 suggested that one in six Singaporeans suffer some form of mental health problem (other than anxiety and depression, problems such as phobias
and mild depression) that affect their effectiveness and well-being.
More information and LPA forms can be downloaded from the OPG website at www.publicguardian.gov.sg.
The OPG also conducts free workshops on the last Saturday of each month for those keen to know more about the benefits of making an LPA as well as the procedures involved.
Workshops scheduled for the rest of this year are: Oct 30, Nov 27, and Dec 18.
Enquiries and registration can be made by calling the OPG hotline at 1800 226 6222 or e-mail enquiry@publicguardian.gov.sg.
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