This webinar is brought to you by CLEONet cleonet

1. This webinar is brought to you by CLEONet www.cleonet.ca CLEONet is a web site of legal information for community workers and advocates who work with low-income and disadvantaged communities in Ontario. 2010, Community Law School (Sarnia-Lambton) Inc.

2. About our presenter… Judith Wahl has been the Executive Director and Senior Lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) since 1984. ACE is a community legal service for low income seniors that focuses on legal issues that have a greater impact on the older population. Judith has organized and taught numerous public legal education programmes on legal issues that arise in day to day work with seniors, including Advance Care Planning - Physicians’ Training Ontario College of Family Physicians and Alzheimer Society of Ontario; Gerontology Programme at McMaster University, Faculty of Social Sciences; the Diversity Training Course at C.O. Bick Police College; as well as Continuing Legal Education Programmes for the Law Society of Upper Canada, Ontario Bar Association, the former Canadian Bar Association – Ontario, and the Canadian Bar Association National.

3. Powers of Attorney and other Substitute Decision Making Authorities Judith Wahl Advocacy Centre for the Elderly wahlj@lao.on.ca Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

4. Advocacy Centre for The Elderly • 2 Carlton Street, Suite 701Toronto, OntarioM5B 1J3 • Tel - 416-598-2656 • Fax - 416-598-7924 • Email wahlj@lao.on.ca • Website www.acelaw.ca Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

5. Two Webinars • Part 1 - Mental Capacity and Decision Making - The ABCs of Substitute Decision Making • Part 2 - Powers of Attorney and other Substitute Decision Making Authorities Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

6. Part I of 2 Mental Capacity and Substitute Decision Making • Decision-making • When someone else gets authority to make decisions for you • How mental capacity is defined in law • How mental capacity for decision making is assessed • Who assesses mental capacity for different purposes • Who are your substitute decision makers for different purposes Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

7. Today’s Webinar - Part 2 of 2Powers of Attorney and other Substitute Decision Making Authorities • What is a Power of attorney • Different types of POAs • Why you may want to prepare a POA • How you can prepare a POA • When a POA comes into effect and why • What happens if you haven’t prepared a POA • The authority of the attorney named in a POA. • Other substitute decision making authorities • Statutory guardianships • Court ordered guardianships • Substitute decision maker for health care when you have not prepared a POA for Personal care Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

8. Questions during Webinar • Please write your questions in the chat box during the presentation • We will also have a SHORT break for questions twice during the presentation • after the explanation of the POA Property and Substitute Decision Makers for Property AND • after the explanation the Substitute Decisions Makers for Personal Care • We will also take questions at the end Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

9. Legislation • Substitute Decisions Act (SDA) • Health Care Consent Act (HCCA) • Mental Health Act (MHA) See “Laws” on the Ontario Government website at www.gov.on.ca Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

10. What Decisions do you make in your Life? • Decisions about Property – money, real estate, personal goods, furniture, things of value to the person, bank accounts • Decisions about Personal Care – Shelter, nutrition, hygiene, safety, clothing and health care Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

11. Who Decides? • You decide for yourself if MENTALLY CAPABLE • Your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) if you are NOT mentally capable Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

12. What does it mean to be Mentally Capable? • To be Mentally Capable means that you have the ability to understand information relevant to making the decision and the ability to appreciate the consequences of making a decision or not making a decision Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

13. Who is your SDM for Property if you are not mentally capable for property decisions? Summary**** • Someone you, when you are still mentally capable, choose as an “attorney” in a POA Property • When you become incapable • A Statutory Guardian for Property • A Court Ordered Guardian of Property • A Trustee appointed under the OAS or CPP legislation Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

14. Powers of Attorney for Property • Your attorney named in a POA Propertyif you made a POA Property • You can choose the person you want to act for you by signing a POA Property • You must be mentally Capable • POA Property is a DOCUMENT, in Writing, in which you name an SDM (called an “attorney”), you sign, and two witnesses sign all in the presence of each other Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

15. Powers of Attorney for Property • For a POA Property to be valid • You must be mentally capable when you sign it • You must be signing it voluntarily • POA Property is a DOCUMENT, in Writing, in which you name an SDM (called an “attorney”), you sign, and two witnesses sign all in the presence of each other Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

16. How do you get a POA Property done? • How do you get a POA Property done? - use Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee Kit - go to a free legal clinic (some do these documents) - go to a lawyer Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

17. IMPORTANT things to remember before signing a POA for Property • Think about whether you need one or not – POAs for property are NOT the best things for everyone • You should ONLY name someone as attorney if you have someone that you TRUST and think that you will be able to trust in the future • If you don’t have someone you can trust – DON’T SIGN A POA PROPERTY Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

18. IMPORTANT things to remember before signing a POA for Property • The person who you name as attorney in a POA will have the ability to “sign your name” – so think about what that means. • You can sell your house by signing your name.. You can enter into contracts by signing your name.. You can have a mortgage put on your house by signing your name… you can access your bank accounts by signing your name.. • Should you name more than one person as your attorney? Should they act together (jointly) or jointly and severally (separately) ? Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

19. When POA Property in Effect • Comes into effect ON SIGNATURE when you are still mentally capable • If you write into the POA Property that you only want it to be in effect AFTER you become incapable, then your attorney (SDM) can use POA Property ONLY after you become incapable Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

20. Who is your SDM for Property if you are not mentally capable for property and don’t have a POA Property – Statutory Guardianship • If you don’t have a POA property and you are likely mentally incapable to manage property, someone can arrange for you to be assessed by a “Capacity Assessor” and if found incapable for property , the OPGT will take over your money management for you and act as your SDM for property. This is called a Statutory Guardianship Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

21. Application to replace the OPGT as your Statutory Guardian • Your spouse or partner, your relatives, or a trust company (with consent of your spouse or partner) may apply to replace the OPGT as your statutory guardian and take over management of your property Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

22. Capacity Assessors • Capacity assessors are fee for service- whoever asks for the assessment, pays for the assessment • You can get information about who are capacity assessors and how to find them by contacting the Capacity Assessment Office located in the same Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

23. Definition of Capacity Assessor • SDA s. 1(1)“assessor” means a member of a class of persons who are designated by the regulations as being qualified to do assessments of capacity. Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

24. Capacity Assessors O.Reg.460/05 • S.2 (1) A person is qualified to do assessments if he or she,a) satisfies one of the conditions set out in ss.(2) (Member of particular College) ;b) has successfully completed the Qualifying course described in s.4c) complies with s.5 (continuing education)d) complies with s.6 (minimum annual number of assessments) e) is covered by professional liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000... Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

25. Capacity Assessors O.Reg.460/05 • S.2 (2) is a member of one of the following Colleges.a) College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario.b) College of Psychologists of Ontario.c) Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers and holds a certificate of registration for social work.d) College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.e) College of Nurses of Ontario. Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

26. Who is your SDM for Property if you are not mentally capable and don’t have a POA Property and are an inpatient in a psychiatric facility? • If you are admitted as an inpatient to a hospital for psychiatric treatment, a physician must assess you as to whether you are mentally capable to manage property • If you are found incapable, the OPGT will step in as your SDM for property (called a Statutory Guardianship) Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

27. Statutory Guardianship • This statutory guardianship may continue after you are discharged from a psychiatric facility and move back home or move into another accommodation like a hospital or long term care home • Before you are discharged from the psychiatric facility, a physician must either find you mentally capable to manage your own property or sign a notice of continuance to permit the statutory guardianship to continue to be in effect Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

28. Who is your SDM for Property if you are not mentally capable and don’t have a POA Property – Court Ordered Guardian • Someone, usually a close relative, can apply to court to be named your Guardian of Property– but other people also could apply to become your court ordered Guardian Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

29. Who is your SDM for Property if you are not mentally capable and don’t have a POA Property - Trusteeship • If you have income only from Canada Pension and Old Age Security, and you become incapable for property and have no POA property, someone can apply to become your TRUSTEE to manage your money for you • Application forms for this are available from Service Canada (Income Security Branch) – These are a certificate of Incapability and an Undertaking Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

30. Questions? • Any questions about Powers of Attorney for Property or other Substitute Decision Makers for Property? Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

31. Who is your SDM if you become incapable for Personal Care? ****Summary • Someone you choose in a POA Personal Care • A Court Ordered Guardian of the Person • For health decisions – the person or persons highest ranking in the hierarchy of SDMs in the Health Care Consent Act Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

32. Who is your SDM if you become incapable for Personal Care? • You can prepare a POA Personal Care to choose someone to act for you • POA Personal Care – is a document, in writing, in which you name someone (or more than one person) to be your attorney for personal care. You can also write in that document your wishes about health care and treatment. That document must be signed by you and two witnesses in the presence of each other. Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

33. How do you get a POA Personal Care done? • How do you get a POA Personal Care done? - use OPGT Kit - go to a free legal clinic ( some do these documents) - go to a lawyer Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

34. Important things to think about before signing a POA for Personal Care • Do you need a POA Personal Care? Why? • Do you have someone that you can trust to name as attorney- remember that this persons will be able to make decisions about where you LIVE, what HEALTH CARE you will get or won’t get, what food you eat and clothes you wear and how your hygiene is maintained and what risks you can take… Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

35. When POA Personal Care Comes into Effect • A POA Personal Care is different than a POA Property as to when it comes into effect • A POA Personal Care ONLY comes into effect and gives authority to your SDM to make decisions for you when you are not mentally capable for personal care decisions Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

36. Who is your SDM if you are not mentally capable to make Health Decisions? • You ALWAYS have an SDM for Health Care even if you have not done a POA Personal Care • Your SDM is the person HIGHEST on the list of SDMs in the Health Care Consent Act Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

37. List of SDMs for Health Care • Court Ordered Guardian of the Person • Attorney in a Power of Attorney for Personal care • Representative ( person appointed by the Consent and Capacity Board) • Your spouse or partner • Your Child or parent • Your Brothers or sisters • Any of your other relatives • The Public Guardian and Trustee Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

38. Requirements for Person to be an SDM Person highest in hierarchy may give or refuse consent only if he or she: a) is capable in respect to the treatment b) is at least 16 years old unless the parent of the incapable person c) is not prohibited by a court order or separation agreement from acting as SDM d) is available e) is willing to act as SDM Advocacy Centre for the Elderly 38

39. List of SDMs for Health Care • If you have more than one person in the same category that is available to act for you as SDM, then all of them must act together and agree or they may pick one of the group to act for you – so if you have three children all three may act for you or they must choose which one will act for you – THEY must agree in some way as to what the decision is for you and how many of them are “active” in the decision making. Health providers cannot pick which of them that may act for you Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

40. Definition of Spouse Two persons (same sex or opposite sex) who are (a) married to each other; or(b) living common law and, i) have cohabited for at least one year, orii) are together the parents of a child, oriii) have together entered into a cohabitation agreement under s. 53 of the Family Law Act.Not spouses if living separate and apart as a result of a breakdown of their relationship. Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

41. Definitions • PARTNERTwo persons who have lived for at least one year and have a close personal relationship that is of primary importance in both person’s lives • RELATIVEPeople are relatives if related by blood, marriage or adoption Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

42. What's the difference between a POA Personal Care and an “Advance Directive’? • The Ontario legislation ONLY refers to POAs for personal care and to the ability of people to express “wishes” about future health care • There is no reference to advance directives or living wills • You cannot validly appoint someone as your decision maker in an advance directive – You can only do that in a valid POA Personal Care Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

43. Questions? • Any questions about POA personal Care or other Substitute Decision Makers for Personal Care or Health Care? Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

44. What are the Duties of an Attorney for Property and Guardian for Property? Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

45. Fiduciary duty • A “fiduciary duty” - To act with honesty and integrity and in good faith, for the benefit of the Donor. • If an Attorney’s decision will have an effect on the incapable person’s personal comfort or well-being, the Attorney shall consider that effect in determining whether the decision is for the incapable person’s benefit Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

46. Participation • An Attorney for Property and an Attorney for Personal care shall both encourage the incapable person to participate, to the best of his or her abilities, in the guardian’s decisions about the property and personal care  Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

47. Family and Friends • An Attorney for Property and an Attorney for Personal Care shall both seek to foster regular personal contact between the incapable person and supportive family members and friends of the incapable person. • Neither type of attorney has the authority to block access by other relatives to a resident in a LTC home unless its an issue of safety Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

48. Consultation An Attorney for Property and the Attorney for Personal Care shall both consult from time to time with: • supportive family members and friends of the incapable person who are in regular personal contact with the incapable person; and • the persons from whom the incapable person receives personal care.  Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

49. Accounts • An Attorney for Property shall, in accordance with the regulations, keep accounts of all transactions involving the property. Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

50. Duty to Account and Records of an Attorney for Personal Care • The attorney for personal care has a duty to keep records • The records should include • A list of each personal care decision, the reason for it and the date, and . . . • A copy of medical reports for any decision • Names of any persons consulted a description of the incapable person's wishes, if any, relevant to each decision, that he or she expressed when capable and the manner in which they were expressed; • A description of the person's wishes • The attorney's or guardian's opinion on each of the factors that the attorney is required by law to take into account Advocacy Centre for the Elderly