PENSIONERS must do more to plan for health issues and not just focus on finances, a legal expert warned.

The call from Sean Aldridge, an executive at Napthens solicitors, which has offices in Chorley and Blackburn, comes as Government figures show that more than 900,000 elderly people have registered lasting powers of attorney (LPA) since they were created in 2007.

However, only 20 per cent of LPAs relate to health and welfare.

Mr Aldridge said: “Health and welfare LPAs allow a trusted individual to make decisions on important topics including where to live – home or a nursing home – and medical treatment.”