October 16, 2018
“We just adopted a baby girl. We can’t only think about ourselves now. I decided to prepare an enhanced representation agreement. I chose my partner Max to be my representative. I know it’s a big deal to hand that much power over to him. But I can’t think of a better person to make critical medical decisions if something ever happens to me.”
– Benjamin, Vancouver, BC
As we age, planning for later life becomes increasingly important. It may also be that personal planning is relevant to you in ways you haven't contemplated. Are any of these circumstances familiar to you?
An adult child wants to take steps to assist a parent whose mental condition appears to be deteriorating.
A first-generation immigrant wants to learn about assisted living arrangements that integrate important aspects of their own culture.
An older adult wonders how best to talk to their loved ones and health care providers about their personal and religious values and how they wish these to impact future decisions about their health.
Parents with young children wonder who might make financial and legal decisions for their family if they ever unexpectedly became unable to do so.
Everyone's plan for later life is unique to their circumstances. They may include things like preparing legal documents (such as powers of attorney) and identifying useful resources and assistance. They may be coloured by related experiences where they felt unsupported or confused about their options.
We invite you to share your stories and challenges with planning for later life, either in your own planning or in assisting family and loved ones in theirs. Our goal is to learn from your experiences, and to create information and tools that will equip you to better address concerns and barriers. Please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!