6CRIPPSLIFEStatistically, we will all be living longer and if youare a man, the good news is that the gapbetween survival rates for men and women isclosing. Cripps Harries Hallpartner, Anne Lewisheads up the team which has developedCrippsAssist, to support elderly clients and theirfamilies in a number of ways, including help withrelocation to more suitable accommodation,organising support at home, assisting withbudgeting, providing simple accounts andmaintaining a network of trusted serviceproviders. Providing a watching brief over elderlyrelatives when members of the family are notavailable, because of holiday or living at adistance is a service often appreciated.How CrippsAssist has helped one client:Mary is now in her late 80s; her closest relative is acousin who is herself quite elderly and, while sherecognises Mary needs assistance with managingher affairs, feels unable to provide this care andsupport herself.Cripps was contacted by the cousin about a yearago and asked to contact Mary who wanted torevise her long out of date will. At the meetingMary expressed concerns that her memory wasstarting to fail and felt increasingly unable tocope to manage her affairs so she decided toappoint Cripps to help her under a Lasting Powerof Attorney. Mary did not want to be a 'burden' onher family.Social Services had been involved but steppeddown once satisfied that Mary's affairs were inhand. It became apparent that Mary's home wasincreasingly unsuitable for her needs. She wasunable to manage her stairs and lived in onesmall room assisted by carers. Temporary respitecare was arranged over the Christmas period soMary had company and was safe during the worstof the snow. That was a success and Mary decidedto move permanently into residential care whereshe remains very happily. Mary's capacity has deteriorated significantlyrecently. As required by the Mental Capacity Act,we are careful to ensure that every decisionmade is in her 'best interest' followingconsultation with Mary herself and those closestto her, obtaining medical opinions, if necessary.Feedback from friends, family and Mary herselfindicates their appreciation of the support Maryhas received and that her affairs are now beingproperly managed.Many older clients live active and adventurouslives well into retirement. Others benefit fromdiffering degrees of assistance to help themmaintain an active lifestyle. CrippsAssist canguide elderly clients and their families throughthe maze of options available to help in makingthe right decision. A pioneer in one of thoseoptions, the new field of retirement villages, isCripps' client Audley Care. While care at home isoften the preferred option for elderly clients, itcan on occasions result in physical, emotional orfinancial abuse for the vulnerable elderly. Crippshas regrettably over the years had to deal with anumber of such cases. Anne Lewis hasestablished links with Laura Luckett of The GoodCare Group, who says; "it is very satisfying tomatch the right highly qualified carer with thevulnerable elderly client. It gives families peace ofmind to know that carers have suitable trainingand backup." Mary and her family have appreciated the support of CrippsAssist andin addition, as a trusted adviser with knowledge of the market and contacts both in the commercial and charitable sphere, it can help you and your family to make the right decision at a difficult time.CrippsAssistA watching brief"CrippsAssist canhelp you andyour familyto make the rightdecision at adifficulttime"FIND OUT MOREAnne LewisPartnerT:01892 506 356E:anne.lewis@crippslaw.comFor moreinformation aboutCrippsAssist pleasecontact :i

CRIPPSLIFE7Minhaz Manji is a Cripps Harries Hall client andsuccessful business man based in London.Through his company, Monteacute House Ltd,he owns and operates hotels in the UK.Born in Kenya of Indian origin, from early in hislife he was aware of the deprivation that exists indeveloping countries. His parents were quick toremind him that he was privileged. "At the endof the meal, my father would always go roundthe table and ask each person "what did you dofor someone else today?" From a very youngage, we were encouraged to help others." Min'sfather set up an eye hospital in Ahmendabad,which, since its inception, has carried outmore than two million free sightrestorations.In 2003 Min instructed PeterScott, head of charities at Cripps,to set up a charity called theEmbassy of Man with theprincipal aim of helping andsupporting local charitieswithin the communities inwhich his hotels operated."We were particularlyinterested in supportingcharities which did not receivegovernment funding and whichworked with the elderly, the infirmand local children fromunderprivileged backgrounds andsuffering from disabilities" he says.The contributions are received mainly fromguests, corporate clients and other businessassociates. Every penny collected finds its waydirectly to the sharp end as only tangible goodsare purchased benefiting many users.Furthermore all administrative costs associatedwith running the charity are met by themanagement company so that all the moniesdonated can be used to make a positivedifference in as many lives as possible. Thecharity has managed to fund a variety of causesin many different ways since it was establishedand with the help of members of staff andguests, hopes to continue the good work. In 2007, the Embassy of Man went internationalwhen it hosted a charitable ball at TheGrosvenor House Hotel, raising around£100,000 for the PREDA Foundation; aPhilippine human rights and social developmentorganisation which helps the poorest and mostvulnerable people in society to overcomeinjustice and poverty. With the funds they havebuilt a training centre in Olongapo City for boys,called The Embassy of Man Centre, whichhouses around 400 children, aged from 6-13.What's in the future for the Embassy of Man?"Going forward" says Min "I would hope that thecharity is perpetuated in the same way. I wantpeople to see it for what it is. Our objective is tomake a small dent in the deprivation that existsand to alleviate some element of the crueltythat human beings subject each other to."ClientprofileThere is room at the inn"Every pennycollectedfinds its waydirectly tothe sharpend as onlytangiblegoods arepurchasedbenefitingmany users"FIND OUT MOREFor more informationon forming your owncharitablefoundation pleasecontact:Mary-Anne GribbonPartnerT:01892 506 012E:mary-anne.gribbon@crippslaw.comi