Power of Attorney for Property: Best Practices and Practical Considerations

Aging Vibrantly : Conversations to Empower Seniors

People often think they don’t need to have a Power of Attorney for Property, but in fact everyone should consider having one, especially when they are still capable of expressing their wishes.

In this episode, Power of Attorney for Property: Best Practices and Practical Considerations, our guest Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, engages with us in a lighthearted, yet serious discussion, on what you need to know about making a Power of Attorney (PoA).

In this episode you will learn:

• What a Power of Attorney (PoA) is and the importance of having one
• Define differences between PoA for Personal Care and PoA for Property
• Considerations when deciding who to designate as your attorney
• The roles and responsibilities of someone acting as an Attorney
• What decisions an attorney can and cannot make on your behalf
• How to have ‘What If’ conversations
• The risks and signs of financial exploitation and abuse of power
• How capacity for decision making is assessed
• How to handle decision making conflicts and options for resolutions
• Resources and support for seniors and families with questions on PoA

Until next time - Stay Vibrant!

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Episode Resources: Let's Talk about Aging Parents: A Real-Life Guide to Solving Problems with 27 Essential Conversations Author: Laura Tamblyn Watts

Power or Attorney Presentation (CanAge)

Power of Attorney: Advance Directions for Care and Financial Decisions (who decides and how decisions are made (2023) Power of Attorney 101: The Key Info Everyone Needs to Know About Mental Capacity and POA’s (2021)

What every older Canadian should know about: Powers of attorney (for financial matters and property) and joint bank accounts. Government of Canada

Websites:

CanAge www.CanAge.ca

Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario Network www.eapon.ca

Canadian Network for the Prevention Elder Abuse www.cnpea.ca

The Capacity Assessment Office- Ontario https://www.ontario.ca/page/list-capacity-assessors

Practical Guide to Elder Abuse and Neglect Law in Canada, A searchable website (French & English), that explains laws related to elder abuse and neglect occurring anywhere in Canada. Produced by the Canadian Centre for Elder Law: https://ccelderlaw.ca

Power of Attorney for Property- Steps to Justice Use the Guided Pathways to make a Power of Attorney to give someone power to make decisions about your property.

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About Laura Tamblyn Watts:

Laura Tamblyn-Watts, a lawyer, elder law expert and CEO of CanAge, Canada’s national senior’s advocacy organization. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto where she teaches Law and Aging.

Most recently, she published her book, “Let’s Talk About Aging Parents: A real-life guide to solving problems with 27 Essential Conversations”. Her influence is felt both nationally and internationally through her active and impactful consumer advocacy work defending the rights of older people.

Follow CanAge: @CanAgeSeniors

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Credits:

This podcast is Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Co-Host: Leo Bonnell, Member of Aging Vibrantly Podcast Advisory Committee Producer: Todd Miller, The Podcast Experts Podcast Coordinator: Lisa Widdifield

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as constituting or implying endorsement by EAPO of any entity, product, service or organization mentioned, referenced, or linked.