POA IS NOT ENOUGH
Show Them the Way!
– By Andrew Brown, Brown Lawyers
M ost of us are aware of the Power of Attorney (or
POA) as a tool to help manage our financial and physical
well being in the event of a cognitive and/or physical
diminishment. While a POA is necessary, it can only
identify who we want our legal representatives will be in
such a situation.
But what about everything else? What about budgets,
financial obligations, goals, and desires for a time when
you can’t make decisions for yourself? Unfortunately, once
you suffer from a cognitive impairment, you may no longer
have the legal capacity to help your family deal with your
care. Your family will be forced to make decisions and act
on your behalf, and the high emotion of a family crisis
coupled with unclear direction is a formula for conflict
and family strain. You have seen it in your community. As
a law firm, we see it every day as we help families struggle
through the consequences of inadequate preparation. You
need to have a plan in place before this happens.
The good news is you can start planning with your family
now. Working with a lawyer to create a Family Care Plan
ensures the success of your family at difficult times by
documenting a strategy for your care and putting legal
tools in place to make sure that those you have chosen to
act for are legally able to do so.
Some questions to consider for your
Family Care Plan:
• Do you want to stay in your home?
• How much will it cost? How much are you willing
to spend?
• Who will help you? Will your family be hiring people?
• What do you want in a care home if needed?
• Where do you definitely not want to live?
A Family Care Plan gives your family a clear course of
action at a time when they may no longer be able to rely
on your direction.
It also creates a common objective for your family; when
everyone feels they have been heard they are more invested
in the plan and are more likely to stick to it.
Guide Your Family to Success
with a Family Care Plan
What happens when we lose capacity to make decisions for
ourselves? It’s up to our loved ones to make those decisions
for us. Do your loved ones have the tools and information
they need to make the right decisions for you? Give them the
guidance they need now to make the right call when you
need them to with a Family Care Plan from Brown Lawyers.
We’ll work with you and your loved ones to put together a
plan that is right for your unique needs.
Call us to start your plan today!
These conversations can be difficult, so your lawyer can
function as a neutral third party, as well as legal advisor.•
brownlawyerspc.com
Burlington
39-3455 Harvester Rd
905-632-2822
Waterdown
25 Mill St N
905-528-6346
Dundas
5 King St E
905-627-5487