Your guide to leaving a gift to fight dementia in your Will

With resolveWith compassionWith hope

For me, as it is for the supporters who fund this charity, dementia is personal.Little by little, day-by-day, it robbed me of my independent, organised mum who I’d always been able to depend on. She doesn’t know me now, but I don’t think she loves me any less. It’s important to me not to let this disease define my memories of her. And I will not rest while it continues to define the memories of anybody else.

I want to fight back against dementia, and I believe the best way any of us can do that is by leaving a gift in our Wills.These gifts can fund our vital research, allowing us to make a long-term commitment to support scientists looking into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia. My dearest wish, which you may share, is that researchers one day find a cure and people’s lives will no longer be torn apart by this cruel disease.

I know this is a lofty ambition, but I believe it is possible. With the compassion, foresight and understanding of supporters who leave gifts in their Wills, Alzheimer’s Society will be able to invest in research on the scale that gives scientists a better chance of finding a cure, while continuing to run the vital support services that are a lifeline to so many.

I hope this guide answers any questions you may have about leaving a gift, but if any remain please do contact your local Legacy Giving Officer.

Warm regards.

Kate Lee Chief Executive Alzheimer’s Society

Your gift to fight dementia in the futureMaking or amending your Will can, at first, seem a little daunting. But with the right information, and support from a solicitor, the process can be surprisingly straightforward.

Alzheimer’s Society has put together the following information to make leaving a gift stress free and simple. And if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact your local Legacy Giving Officer. You can also get practical guidance on how to make your Will by reading our step-by-step guide.

A gift in your Will: your questions answeredDo I need a solicitor? We would strongly advise you to do so. A solicitor’s expertise will give you the peace of mind of knowing that your wishes will be respected, are legally correct, and that your estate will go to the people and causes you hold dear.

I want to take care of my loved ones first. Can I still leave a gift? Of course. Even 1% of your estate, after family and friends are provided for, helps fund the research that contributes to a future free of dementia.

Will I pay tax on my gift? No. Gifts to charities are exempt from Inheritance Tax. They can even reduce the amount of tax your estate has to pay. Please visit the HM Revenue and Customs website for details.

How much should I give to make a difference? Some gifts we receive are large. Many are not. But together they fund over 25% of our research, which makes a huge difference!

Email legacies@alzheimers.org.uk or call 0330 333 0804 33

What type of gift can I leave? There are three types of gift. Many supporters prefer to leave a residuary gift, or percentage of their estate. This type of gift gives people the reassurance of knowing their gift will be protected against inflation. You could also choose to leave a pecuniary gift, which is a fixed sum of money, or a specific gift of individual possessions.

What wording should I use to leave a gift to Alzheimer’s Society? You can find the specific wording you can use on the next page.

What is an executor? An Executor is the person you choose to make sure your wishes, as laid out in your Will, are adhered to. This can be a family member, friend or trusted professional and you can find out more about their role by reading our Executor’s Guide.

I already have a Will, how do I add a codicil to leave a gift to Alzheimer’s Society? We recommend you talk to your solicitor before adding a codicil. If you do, it’s a good idea to keep it in a safe place with your existing Will.

Isn’t making a Will very expensive? Drawing up a simple Will should cost between £150 and £300. More complicated situations or requirements generally increase the cost. The peace of mind it can give you, however, can be priceless, as doing so will ensure your estate isn’t stuck in probate for months after you die. But for people who need assistance, Alzheimer’s Society offers our Will to Remember scheme. The scheme links Alzheimer’s Society supporters with trusted partner solicitors, and gives you a £150 discount on making your Will.

Contact your local Legacy Giving Officer 34

Email legacies@alzheimers.org.uk or call 0330 333 0804

Wording for your WillIf you are seeing a solicitor, you can print off the following wording and give it to them to ensure your wishes are carried out.

To leave a share of your estate

‘I give my Residuary Estate [residuary estate will need to have been defined elsewhere in the Will and is a gift made after deductions of debts, taxes and expenses, which usually fall on residue] to Alzheimer’s Society of 43-44 Crutched Friars, London, EC3N 2AE, Registered Charity Number 296645.’

To leave a cash gift

‘I give the sum of [£ in words and numbers] absolutely to Alzheimer’s Society of 43-44 Crutched Friars, London, EC3N 2AE, Registered Charity Number 296645 and I declare that the receipt of the treasurer or any other proper authorised officer of any charity benefitting under my Will shall be a sufficient discharge for my Trustees who shall not be concerned as to the application of any gifts or payment.’

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A gift in your Will could lead to a breakthrough in the fight against dementiaYour gift could support scientists tackling memory loss

The research of Dr Michael Craig at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh is looking at what makes the consolidation of new memories problematic for people with dementia. As he explains:

‘It seems likely that there is a critical window in the few minutes following learning something new to laying down memories in the brain, so that they can be remembered in the longer term. In Alzheimer’s disease, this process of memory ‘consolidation’ seems more vulnerable to being disrupted.’

If Dr Craig’s research team can find a specific disease-related cause for this, it may be possible to develop new drug treatments to support memory, and diagnostic tools to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier than is currently possible.

You can help researchers investigating gene change

Dr Isabel Castanho, at the University of Exeter Medical School, is working to increase our knowledge of how detailed changes in brain cells relate to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease from its early to late stages.

She is tracking how different genes are activated and deactivated as the disease progresses by studying changes in the brains of mice. She aims to compare these findings with data from human brain research. Isabel says:

‘The end goal of my work is to help delay and reduce the consequences of Alzheimer’s disease for people and their families.’

Contact your local Legacy Giving Officer 36

‘I want to ensure future generations don’t have to go through what people are going through now.’Your fellow Alzheimer’s Society supporter Pam Day explains what she wants the gift she left in her Will to achieve.

‘Including a gift in my Will is a way of remembering my Mum, Sarah, and doing what I can to protect more families from the heartache of dementia.

‘When Mum was diagnosed there were no further tests done, explanations given, or support offered. I think the general consensus was, ‘When you get old, you get forgetful – end of.’ I hadn’t heard of Alzheimer’s Society back then – it would have helped enormously to talk to somebody who had some understanding.

‘I want my gift to help Alzheimer’s Society offer more support to people affected by dementia, as well as find a cure. If I can play a part in making sure more research gets done, I feel like something good will have come out of my life.’

For over 40 years, Alzheimer’s Society has invested in groundbreaking research and offered support to everybody affected. With a gift in your Will you can ensure we continue the fight against dementia, until that fight is won.

Pam Day Supporter and Legacy Pledger 37

Your gift can ensure nobody has to face dementia aloneA gift in your Will can mean that every son or daughter struggling to come to terms with their parent’s dementia has a shoulder to cry on.

It can mean that every spouse who is exhausted from caring for their partner has someone to turn to.

It can mean every relative left bewildered and angry after trying to negotiate the social care system can get the guidance, advice and support that they need.

A gift left in your Will can help us maintain, and in the future expand and develop, our extensive range of support services for people with dementia and their families.

These currently include, but are not limited to:

Dementia adviser phone support

Dementia adviser face to face support

Side by Side

Singing for the Brain®

Dementia Connect support line 0333 150 3456

Dementia is cruel, complex and often overwhelming for everybody affected. Nobody should have to face up to its consequences without the best possible support and advice. Leaving a gift in your Will can ensure that, in the future, nobody has to.

Contact your local Legacy Giving Officer 38

Please leave a gift to Alzheimer’s Society in your Will - and help win the fight against dementiaWhen I talk to supporters who have left a gift to Alzheimer’s Society in their Wills, they often tell me that doing so gives them a chance to make a statement about who they are. They’ve had to struggle with the consequences of dementia, and don’t want future generations to find things so difficult. For me, that level of selflessness and fellow-feeling marks out people who leave a gift as very special indeed.

People also tell me their number one wish is to help find a cure, or at the very least develop better treatments for people with Alzheimer’s. That’s absolutely crucial because gifts in Wills mean we can commit to fund the long-term research projects that give us the best hope of one day finding a cure. A gift in your Will could help finally win the fight against dementia.

If you need any help, Alzheimer’s Society has a dedicated team of local Legacy Giving Officers on hand. I know they would love to hear from you, so please do get in touch with them if you have any questions.

I’d also like to ask that, whatever you decide, you let us know your intentions, even if you are unable to consider leaving a gift at this time. Knowing your thoughts will help us to communicate more effectively in the future, and if you are leaving a gift I would like the opportunity to thank you properly.

Sincerely,

Adam Buckles Head of Legacies Alzheimer’s Society

Show your resolveDemonstrate your compassionGive hope to people affected by dementia in the future

0330 333 0804legacies@alzheimers.org.ukalzheimers.org.uk/legaciesAlzheimer’s Society 43-44 Crutched Friars London EC3N 2AE

Alzheimer’s Society is a registered Charity No. 296645. Registered as a company limited by guarantee and registered in England No. 2115499.

Alzheimer’s Society operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Show your resolve Demonstrate your compassion Give hope to people affected by dementia in the future