Canadian Hearing Care - Senior Connector

mlp09_sep✃Thompson ValleyFuneral HomeAshcroftCall Bill PerryTel: 250-453-9802 • Fax: 250-453-9806Toll Free: 1-800-295-5138Dr. D. Barry DextrazeB.A.D.D.S.Dr. Barry DextrazeGeneral PractitionerProviding Preventative,Restorative, Cosmetic&Family DentistryNew PatientsWelcome!Call 376-5354email: drdex@kamloops.netwww.drdextraze.com#21 Fortune Shopping CentreFree ParkingPeace of mindNeed help settling your affairs?Nixon & Company can help!We provide comprehensive legal services including:• Wills • Powers of Attorney• Probate and Letters of Administration• Committee Applications• Wills Variation • Contested Estates• Representation AgreementsPage 10Uptown Foods100% Locally Owned and OperatedVisit us downtown on 5th Ave for all your grocery needs• Grocery • Fresh Meat & Fish • Produce • Dairy • Frozen Food• Deli • Bakery • Lottery • Cards • Magazines • Coffee BarEspecially for Seniors: Free Delivery in the downtown area Mon. to Fri.Phone (250) 851-8651Fax (250) 851-2086 • 120 5th Ave. (corner Lansdowne & 5th)Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am to 7:30pm • Sunday & Holidays 10:00am to 6:00pmEnter to Win an Uptown AG Foods$25 00 Gift Certificate!Drop off this entry form in the store for your chance to win!Prize drawn monthly. Gift certificate valid for in-store purchases, excluding tobacco & lottery.Original entry form only—no facsimiles accepted.Blair NixonFor more information, call:(250) 372-3233460 Victoria StreetKamloops, BC V2C 2A7Congratulations toour August winner!Louise Kennedyof KamloopsName: _________________________ Phone: _____________________Address: ___________________________________________________tvf01_sepdex05_sepnix02_3x4agf10_sep✁Senior Connector www.seniorconnector.comwww.mlpictureframe.comThe Picture FrameMLWide Variety ofFramed Printsin StockAntiques &Restorations#5 - 111 Oriole Rd., Kamloops • (250) 372-7239September 2005Legal Ease ~ Representation Agreements By Blair NixonEffective February 28, 2000,there are four new Acts inthe Province of B.C., whichwill radically change ourAdult Guardianship laws.These new laws were passedby our legislature in July1993 and are only now beingimplemented.For the average person,the most significant new lawis the Representation AgreementAct.In the past, we have usedPower of Attorney documentsto designate a personto attend to our financial andproperty matters when weare unable to do so. By drawingup an Enduring Power ofAttorney, the document continuesto be effective even ifthe donor becomes mentallyincapable.While a Power of Attorneyworks fine for financialand property matters, it doesnot allow the person nominatedto make any decisionson your behalf relating toyour heath or personal care.Those matters are outside thescope of a Power of Attorney.Up to this time, the practicein B.C. has been for personsto sign Living Wills orHealth Care Directives givinginstructions in advanceas to what specified kinds ofhealth care were consentedto. While these documentswere believed to have beenpersuasive, there has beenno statutory requirement forhospitals and caregivers toact upon these instructions.The RepresentationAgreement Act allows anadult to designate a person tomake decisions on behalf ofthe adult about routine managementof the adult’s financialaffairs, such as paymentof bills, receipt and depositof income and normal livingexpenditures. In the eventthe agreement authorizesthe purchase or sale of realproperty, a lawyer’s certificateissued at the time the agreementis entered into mustalso be completed.Generally, agreementscontaining more complexdecisions such as authorizingthe representative to sella business will require priorconsultation with a lawyerand completion of the certificate.On the other hand,agreements containing comparativelystraightforwarddecisions such as routinebanking matters may becompleted and signed withoutthe involvement of a lawyer.The Act also authorizesthe representative to makedecisions as to health careand personal care matters,with the same caveat applying,that the authority tomake more complex medicaldecisions will require priorconsultation with a lawyerbefore being included in theagreement.The Act recognizes thatseniors and other vulnerablepersons in our populationmay be subject to abuseand neglect. The Act allows aperson to designate a monitorwhose role is to supervise theconduct of the representative.Unless the agreementexpressly provides for it, arepresentative is not entitledto any compensation for hisor her services other thanbeing reimbursed for reasonableexpenses incurred. Arepresentative has no authorityto make, alter or revokethe adult’s will.Representation Agreementdocuments while allowingthe opportunity of designatingpeople to make healthor personal care decisions, doinvolve an element of complexityabove and beyond thetraditional Power of Attorneydocuments. If you are goingto be taking advantage of thisadult guardianship planningtool in the near future, youwould be well advised to consultwith a lawyer.Blair Nixon is a lawyer atNixon & Company and can bereached in Kamloops at 372-3233 or Merritt at 378-4966.Visit him at www.nixonlawyers.com.A promising future ~ it’s in our handsChris Lewis, Chair of theRIH Foundation’s Estate &Planned Giving Campaignexplains how easy it is to participate.For people who haveworked hard to secure theirfuture, the opportunity toleave behind a legacy–onethat will ensure the best possiblehealth care for theirfamily and friends–is notonly an act of generosity, itmakes good financial sense.Limited governmentfunding falls short of thecost of equipping RoyalInland Hospital. Now, morethan ever, we must rely onthe support of individualsand families to ensure thebest possible care is availablein the future.Royal Inland HospitalFoundation’s 21 st CenturySociety is a specializeddivision of RIHF to createawareness about the followingestate and plannedgift opportunities: a bequestin your will, life insurance,RSP/ RIF beneficiary designation,land, securities, charitabletrusts, and personalproperty.Why is estate giving sopopular?There is a growing trendfor individuals who haveaccumulated wealth to notonly want to provide fortheir loved-ones after theirdeath, but also to give somethingback to their community.People also wantto minimize taxes to theirestate. Remembering charitiesis a great way to do this.It is estimated that inthe next decade, in Canadaalone, $3 trillion dollars willpass from one generation tothe next. People often considerhow much they wanttheir children to inherit. Inmany cases, they can be generouswith their families andalso provide for charity.What is the most popularway to contribute throughour estate?Remembering the RoyalInland Hospital Foundationin your will is the mostpopular way people help toprovide health care for futuregenerations. Many includethe Foundation for a percentageof their estate.There are good reasons toadvise a charity if you haveincluded them in your estateplanning. Speaking on behalfof the Hospital Foundation,it helps us plan for the futurewhen we know of gifts thatmay be received down theroad. At the same time, it isimportant that your will usesthe proper title of the charity,in this case, Royal InlandHospital Foundation, and isproperly worded to ensurethat your donation is putto the best possible use orto a specific need (i.e., cancercare). Finally, we like toensure that you understandthe options for recognitionduring your lifetime and notjust in memoriam.We encourage donors toconsult with their financialand legal advisors as well asthe Foundation with regardto any estate gift they areconsidering.