Difference between revisions of "Older People and the Law"

*Wills and estates  

*Elder abuse  

==Retirement and government benefits==

The federal government manages two major public pension programs through Service Canada:  

*Old Age Security (OAS), based on years of living in Canada, and  

People can make bad decisions and not be mentally incapable. The test is whether they understand what they are doing.

===Enduring power of attorney ===

An '''enduring power of attorney''' continues if you become mentally incapable.  

===Who should I choose to be my representative? ===

Choose someone you know well and trust. Make sure they know your wishes. As your representative, they must respect those wishes, now and in the future, especially if you can’t speak for yourself.

==Advance directives ==

In an advance directive you can write instructions to your representative or to your doctor about what kind of health care you want and don’t want if you have a serious medical condition.  

*Don’t sign anything that you don’t understand.  

==Wills and estates ==

Everything you own at the time of your death is called your estate. Homes, bank accounts, investment accounts, jewelry and cars can all be part of your estate. If you have debt when you die, what you owe is part of your estate.  

'''Your local health unit'''. Call the Health and Seniors Information Line at 1-800-465-4911 and ask to be connected to your local health unit or a mental health worker.

{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[People's Law School]], 2013}}