Now they wonder if they should also prepare a personal care power of attorney. Here are some excerpts of my meeting with them. A personal care power of attorney is a legal document whereby you give someone else the legal authority to make decisions about your personal care if you become mentally incapable.
Personal care includes health care, nutrition, clothing, hygiene, shelter, and safety matters.
The personal care power of attorney can be made at any time. However, if you are no longer mentally capable as a result of illness or accident, it will be too late and an application will have to be made to the court to take charge of your affairs with it's attendant legal costs which could exceed two or three thousand dollars. Until an individual makes application to the Court, the Public Guardian and Trustee, a limb of the Provincial government , may apply to act as the guardian of an incapable person and be appointed to act for up to 90 days. You may appoint any trusted person who is over 18. You may also name an alternate attorney in case the primary attorney is unable or unwilling to act .