Planning for your future care
Last reviewed March 2024 by the Clicklaw editors
You may wish to plan for your future care or the care of your loved ones, especially if you’re worried about future capability. Appointing a power of attorney lets someone you trust handle your finances, legal matters, or health care decisions if you think you won’t be able to. Health care directives make sure your preferences are honoured during critical times.
Explore the links below to reliable online guides and tools and to organizations in BC. They have been chosen by librarians at Courthouse Libraries BC.
Selected resources
Click on a topic to see a list of resources.
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Planning for Your Future
People’s Law School
This booklet is for adults in BC who want to plan for their future. It covers arrangements you can put in place now or for when you’re unable to handle your own affairs. It explains your options for planning in four areas: health care and personal care, as well financial affairs and legal matters.
Last reviewed March 2024
When I’m 64: Services for Older Adults
People’s Law School
Explains the services available to help older adults make informed decisions and lead a healthy life as they age. It covers health care, housing, transportation, and recreation services in BC.
Last reviewed November 2024
When I’m 64: Benefits for Older Adults
People’s Law School
Explains what financial help older adults in British Columbia can get from government sources. It covers Old Age Security, the Canada Pension Plan, employment insurance, and welfare benefits for older adults.
Last reviewed November 2024
Personal Planning Tools Across Canada
Nidus Registry
A chart showing where you can get help for personal planning, which is making legal arrangements in the event you need assistance during your lifetime due to illness, injury, or disability. In BC, Nidus can help you make representation agreements and enduring powers of attorney.
Last reviewed March 2024
Navigating Home Care and Senior Housing: An Advocacy Guide
Seniors First BC
A guide explaining the types of personal care and health care that are available to older adults in British Columbia.
Last reviewed November 2024
Dial-a-Law: Powers of Attorney and Representation Agreements
People’s Law School
Explains how to prepare for the possibility of one day needing someone to help you make decisions about your health care, legal affairs, or finances. Topics include power of attorney, enduring power of attorney, and representation agreements.
Last reviewed March 2024
Enduring Power of Attorney Fact Sheet
Nidus Registry
Explains an enduring power of attorney, which is a type of POA that continues even if you become incapable after you make it.
Last reviewed March 2024
Making Decisions for Someone Else
People’s Law School
Practical information on what to consider when making decisions for someone else. Learn about the steps you can take to protect the adult from scams, financial exploitation and abuse, information about the duties you must follow as an attorney, and tools designed to help you in your role.
Last reviewed March 2024
Representation Agreement Overview
Nidus Registry
This Nidus fact sheet introduces the representation agreement, which is governed by the Representation Agreement Act. It describes two types of agreements — RA7 and RA9 — and answers common questions.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Committeeship
People’s Law School
Provides information about committee — a last resort option when someone becomes mentally incapable. It explains the types and responsibilities of committees. Other topics include how committeeship works, how committees are appointed, and how to apply to become a committee.
Last reviewed March 2024
Representation Agreement Resource: Procedures to Revoke (Cancel) a Representation Agreement
Nidus Registry
Explains what is legally required for a valid revocation (cancellation) of an existing representation agreement. Note that making a new agreement does not automatically revoke a previous one. A Notice of Revocation form is also provided.
Last reviewed March 2024
Dial-a-Law: Adults and Consent to Health Care
People’s Law School
Generally speaking, adults can only be given health care with their consent. We explain consent, and the exceptions to this general rule, including what happens when someone is mentally incapable.
Last reviewed March 2024
Planning for Your Future
Alzheimer Society of Canada
Tips on making an advance care plan, arranging a power of attorney, writing a will, and deciding on future living arrangements if you have dementia.
Last reviewed March 2024
Medical Assistance in Dying — Fact Sheet
Nidus Registry
Explains MAiD and who is eligible, who can provide MAiD, what happens if you are mentally incapable or if you cannot physically sign, who can witness a MAiD request, the cost, where you get forms, what to do if you are refused, if you can refuse health care, if you have to request MAiD at end-of-life, and resources from Nidus.
Last reviewed March 2024
My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment
Government of British Columbia
Helps you make an advance care plan that outlines your wishes about future health care decisions if you become unable to express your treatment wish (perhaps because of illness or injury). It includes forms that are legally valid if completed properly.
Last reviewed March 2024
Future Planning Tool (for people with disabilities)
Plan Institute
The Future Planning Tool is intended to promote long-term well-being for Canadians with disabilities by helping them and their families to accomplish their future planning goals, including financial planning, housing, relationships, and more.
Last reviewed March 2024
Estate Planning for Disabled Beneficiaries in British Columbia
Heritage Trust
Estate planning can secure the financial well-being of your disabled child or grandchild. This comprehensive guide on financial planning for disabled people in BC covers the definitions of disability, tax benefits, government assistance, estate-planning options like trusts and RDSPs, decision-making support, and available resources.
Last reviewed March 2024
Disability Benefits Compass
Prosper Canada
This site was created for people living in Canada with a severe mental or physical disability or who have trouble with daily activities and need help from another person, an assistive device, or an animal. The website is also for caregivers, family members, and organizations who provide access to support benefits.
Last reviewed November 2024
Health & Personal Care
People’s Law School
Practical information on what you can do to ensure your wishes around health care and personal care are respected. Learn about the two types of representation agreements, how to prepare an enhanced agreement, and how an advance directive can be used.
Last reviewed March 2024
Financial & Legal Matters
People’s Law School
Practical information on tools you can put in place now in case you can’t manage your financial and legal affairs in future. Learn about the different types of powers of attorney, how to prepare your enduring power of attorney, and your rights and options for changing or ending a power of attorney.
Last reviewed March 2024
Advance Care Planning
Government of British Columbia
Advance care planning involves thinking about your health care preferences and letting your family, friends, and health care providers know. An Advance Care Plan documents your wishes for future treatment if you can’t express them yourself as well as who will take care of your personal and financial matters. Includes a downloadable PDF guide.
Last reviewed March 2024
LSLAP Manual: Adult Guardianship and Substitute Decision-Making
Law Students’ Legal Advice Program (LSLAP)
This chapter is from the manual used by law students handling cases at LSLAP’s legal clinics. It provides an overview of the legal issues that arise where individuals lack the capacity to make important life decisions for themselves.
Last reviewed September 2024
Introduction to Adult Guardianship in BC
Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia
Explains adult guardianship laws make sure financial, legal, personal, and health care decisions can be made by, with, or for adults when needed. This includes if or when adults become mentally incapable.
Last reviewed March 2024
CPP Disability (self-help guides)
Disability Alliance BC
This page features self-help guides about the Canada Pension Plan disability benefit (CPP-D), including how to fill the application form and how to appeal if your request is denied. The guides are also available in Arabic, Persian, Punjabi, and Spanish.
Last reviewed December 2024