The path of longevity

Aging can be a difficult topic to talk about—period. While it’s a natural part of life and it’s a process that we all go through as human beings, the thought of physical or cognitive decline can be hard to accept, and not knowing if or when something may happen can leave many feeling uncomfortable. When this is the case, putting plans in place to account for potential age-related health concerns is something many individuals put off or avoid.  

With Canadians generally living longer and with more and more Baby Boomers shifting into their retirement years, senior and later life health realities are something that an increasing number of families are facing. However, many families are trying to navigate these often difficult and emotional situations without any guidance on what their loved ones want, without knowledge of their intentions or without plans that outline financial or care decisions.

With this in mind, the importance of planning for potential health issues as much in advance as possible can’t be understated—for the protection and assurance it can provide when it comes to personal finances, and for the peace of mind it offers individuals and loved ones.

Putting awareness of senior health realities into action

According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, almost 40 percent of those over age 65 experience some form of memory loss. While some forms are considered part of the normal aging process, there are increasing cases of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia among Canadian seniors, and those numbers are only expected to grow over the next decade.¹ And when it comes to all types of disabilities—physical and cognitive—seniors are almost twice as likely than working-age (25 to 64) Canadians to have at least one condition that limits their everyday activities.²

“There definitely seems to be an increasing awareness these days around senior health concerns and the potential for a situation of disability or incapacity to occur, but there’s still a gap in how that translates into proactive planning among many Canadians,” explains Leanne Kaufman, Head of RBC Royal Trust. “Individuals are gaining a better understanding of the issues and the possibility of something happening, but many don’t understand the implications of not having the right—or any—plans in place and the heartache that can come along with that.”

While this aspect of estate planning is one that many individuals recognize they need to do, there’s a common mindset that it’s something that can be pushed off as a decision for down the road. The shortfall, however, as Kaufman notes, is that “if something unexpected happens or, as some individuals start to experience age-related health issues, if there’s a situation of incapacity, whether temporary or permanent, there is no one who has the legal authority to step into your shoes and act on your behalf unless you have a Power of Attorney. It can be a very simple document, but it saves so much stress and time.”

Moving past stigmas and discomfort with the unknown

Surveys indicate that more than half of Canadians are concerned about being affected by Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, and the greatest concern for many is being a burden on others.⁵ Added to these concerns, 46 percent say they would feel uncomfortable disclosing their dementia even to family members.⁶ When these types of concerns or stigmas of dementia run deep, this may function as a major roadblock to estate and incapacity planning and to having those crucial conversations with family members. To help overcome these barriers, it’s important to look at how the right planning can actually alleviate some of those worries and concerns.

“What people need to realize is that if you don’t have a Power of Attorney, if you haven’t given careful consideration to who would be the best choice to act, if you haven’t communicated your wishes and preferences to loved ones, that’s where the burden comes in,” Kaufman emphasizes. “If a situation of incapacity arises and any of these aspects are missing, family members then have to potentially navigate the court system and make decisions without information or direction as to your financial situation and what you may have wanted from a care standpoint. So it’s actually a lack of planning and leaving loved ones in the dark that really leaves the burden to the people surrounding the incapable person.”

Taking proactive steps

If you’re someone who’s currently facing emotional roadblocks to planning or if you’re perhaps assuming this type of planning is something you’ll take care of down the road, a good starting point may be to simply walk through a “what-if” scenario and consider the impacts personally, financially and within your family—and this is something that can be done individually, with your spouse or another loved one or with an estate planning specialist or a qualified legal advisor. Some may also find it helpful to carry out research on the types of supports, resources and care options that are available.

At a high level, this type of exploratory exercise may be effective in helping you define your wishes and intentions and what matters most to you. For some, it may also function as a strong driver for conversations with loved ones, which ultimately may help boost your peace of mind, knowing your loved ones won’t be left with any unnecessary burdens or unanswered questions during what can be a very emotionally charged and stressful time, especially if these family members are acting as caregivers.

Another important consideration is the potential benefits third-party options may offer when it comes to your Power of Attorney (for finances). Whether acting as attorney to manage the assets or giving assistance to someone who’s been named as attorney, qualified and experienced experts such as those within RBC Royal Trust provide a customized approach and can step in to take on as little or as many of the administrative duties as needed.

And as for timing, Kaufman reinforces an important message: “When talking about planning for potential incapacity, a question I get asked often is: ‘When’s the best time to make these plans?’ My answer is always ‘Yesterday,’ regardless of your age. Incapacity can happen at any age, not just in your senior years, so it’s never too early to start the conversations and to start the planning. Then, as life events occur, go back and revisit and talk about it again.”

Learn more about RBC Royal Trust.

Five key questions to consider in choosing an attorney under a Power of Attorney

This list is not exhaustive and is for information purposes only. To ensure that your individual circumstances have been properly accounted for and that action is taken based on the latest information available, it’s crucial you consult with your qualified legal advisor.

1. Do you want more than one person to act, and how?

• There are a variety of choices if you want to consider appointing more than one attorney. You can require your attorneys to act together (“jointly”) or give them flexibility to carry out duties separately or together (“jointly and severally”*).
• The tasks the attorney or attorneys can carry out also depend on the power given to them in the document. For example, you can do a general Power of Attorney for Property that covers all property and financial affairs or a more specific one for only some affairs. It’s also possible to grant independent decision-making power to separate individuals for different tasks.

Note: For these scenarios, it’s crucial to consult with your qualified legal advisor to ensure a clear understanding of what each attorney can do on your behalf alone, what actions must be taken jointly and how to deal with conflicting instructions.

* In Saskatchewan, there is also the option to appoint attorneys “successively”.

2. Does the individual live in the area or have the flexibility to travel?

• If you appoint someone who lives a fair distance away, the demands may create logistical challenges for the individual.
• If the appointed attorney lives in a different jurisdiction, there may be additional challenges because of legal and administrative complexities related to managing your affairs from afar. (Keep in mind that this may be further complicated if you own property in different geographic locations and divide your time between those homes, for example, as you may require Power of Attorney documents that are effective in each jurisdiction.)

3. Could the individual be in a busy stage of life or unavailable if/when the time comes to act?

• Does the person have young children, a busy career, or do they travel often, for example? If so, fulfilling the duties of an attorney may be challenging.
• Even though a family member may seem like a logical choice, consider the value of spending that time with your loved ones without the pressures of them being tasked with the attorney’s duties.
• Depending on circumstances, the duties may span a number of years and may increase over time.
• It’s important to name an alternate, in case the person appointed isn’t able to act if/when the time comes.

4. Does the person have strong financial knowledge and organizational skills?

• The attorney may have to take on a wide range of responsibilities, from safeguarding assets and prioritizing expenditures to doing taxes and record-keeping. This may be overwhelming or stressful for someone who doesn’t have experience with the level of organization required or with managing finances.

5. Will the person be able to remain emotionally neutral?

• In a situation of incapacity, emotions can run high, and depending on the circumstances, some families may be more prone to conflict. It’s important to choose someone who will uphold your wishes, even if conflict arises. Attorneys are also required to act with impartiality, and some family members may become emotionally vulnerable in this type of situation.
• Give thought to your family dynamics; some situations are complex, and when that’s the case, there may be pressure from family members to act in a way that doesn’t align with what you want.

To learn more about the range of responsibilities that an attorney may have to take on, please consult the RBC Royal Trust “Attorney for property duties checklist”.