The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Whtby Free Proua, Wecfnesday, Api 27, 1994, Page 19 B Goed Mille DurhaEast MPP 1 want to give you some information about the Substitute Decisions Act which is updating the laws on what may happen when someone is not mentally able to make important decisions about his or her life. These decisions' include finances, property management, and personal 'care (health care, food, housing and safety). The new act continues to allow people to ýplan in advance for incapacity by naining a trusted family member or friend, through a power of attorney, to inake those decisions for themn should they become incapable of doing so. There bas been some confusion about the new law, particularly as it relates to, durable power of attorney for property and applications by famil members for gurdanship. Here are sorne common misconceptions. Myth: After the act cornes into force, people who are given power of attorney will be required to provide security and file a management plan. Faet: A person narned in a power of attorney is not required to provide security or file a mangement plan. If you do not make a power of attorney and a guardian has to be appointed, the guardian will be required to provide security and file a management plan. The law has always required these safeguards to protect the interests of the incapable person. Myth: People should hurry to make powers of attorney before the Substitute Decisions Act cornes into effect to avoid certain provisions of the new legislation. Fact: After the act takes effect, alI substitute decision- makers and attorneys and guardians will be subjeet Lu its provisions, no matter when the power of attorney was made, so it really won't make any différence if the power of attorney is signed before the act is proclaimed. Myth: The public trustee will take over the property of everyone who becomes mentally incapable, even if they make a power of attorney or have family who want to act as a guardian. Fadt: The act is designed to limit governrnent involvemnent to situations where there are no suitable alternatives. The act gives people the opportunity te make sure someone they trust will take care of their property by making a-continuing power of attorney. will continue to belong to the incapable person. The decision-maker's job is to manage it for the incapable person's benefit. MytiL' The. act puts new hurdies in the way of family members who wish to assume guardianship of an incapable person when there is no continu.ing power of attorney. Fact: The act actually makes it easier for a farnily member to become a guardian in some cases by introducing a process that does not require an application to the court. The safeguards of security and a management plan have been preserved in the new process because they have proven in the past tob e a valuable way of protecting the financial interests of incapable people. Myth: Everyone who is suspected of being incapable Each year, approximately 35,000 prernature babies are boni in hospitals across Canada, some weighing just over two pounds. Preseving their body heat is one of the most important factors in helping te, improve their survival rate. This can be accomplished by reducing the amount of body heat lost through head, hands and feet with knitted toques, mitts, bootees and blankets. The Guardian Angels prograin was created tu act as will be assessed. Fact: Many incapable people will neyer be assessed. Since the purpose of an assessment is to put a decision-maker in place, this would rarely be necessary if a decision-maker had already been designated under a contin *n power of attorney. Even if there is no power of attorney, an assessment would flot be needed unless the circumstances indicated that a guardian would benefit the person. Myth. Every incapable person will have to have a guardian. Fadt: There is no requirement- under the act that every incapable person have a guardian or any other foi-m Of substitute decision-maker. In fact, the act contains certain a vital link between people who can knit smail garments and the babies who need them. Through the program, knitted garments will be donated to a hospital with a neo-natal unit for premature babies. Every Guardian pharmacy has a special drop-off bin for knitted contributions. Place them in a paper or plastic bag te, keep them clean and fresh. As well, MIî out a name card available at Guardian drug- stores and include it with knitted contributions. One To your Travel Agent books our eeýI Comprehensive Escorted Tours To LUOP'Europe&Britain Globus & Cosmos offer the finest tours to Europe, Britain and other exciting destinations around the world. One cali books air space, transfers and allother elements of the land tour. Choose from a great program of 229 escorted and independent tours. We've specialîzed in quality touring since 1928. Today we selil more escorted vacations than anyone else. Globus...for f irst-class tours at reasonable prices. Cosmos Tourama-.world leader in bargain tours. You »could WIfNyour vacation by booking at 1305 PICKERING ~s PARKWAY, COA)i riin PICKERING CORPORATE -..If Travel CENTRE 1-800-267-9214 - 831-1521 one of these travel agencies. Bring this ad to one of these agenCies when you book your G lobUS or Cosmos Tourama Tour to Europe or Britain and you will be entered in a draw to win 2 tlckets* for 8 days In Britain or the cash equivalent. Deadline for en tres Is May 7th/94. Draw will be held May 1 lth/94. *DetilsavaiabIe aithese agencMeortram tha WNhy Free Prass. -m BAYWOOD CENTRE AJAX - 619-2012 I - A joint promotion of G/dobus/Cosmos.Touramna, the Witby Free Press and the agencies isted in this ad . safegu.ards to prevent a guardian frorn being appointed unnecessarily. The act treats guardianship as a last resort when decisions need to be made and the person incapable of making them, and there is no other alternative. Myth: The nàew legislation is already in effect or is going to corne into effect immediately. Fact: The Substitute Decisions Act wfil not be proclaimed until early in 1995. Video helps seniors stay indepFendent longer, A- growing number of seniors are living in their own homes for a longer period of time, thanks te creative adaptations, new technology and community support. In an effort tou inform seniors about ways they can make adaptations to their homes, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has produced a 34-minute video showcasing a broadspectrumi of common sense ideas. "Mlost houses and apart- ments were not designed for the realities of aging," explains Brian Gray, a senior researcher at CMHC. "CMHC's goal in producing the video is te help seniors identif.y their needs and give them information on a range of adaptations that can help themn continue living inde- pendently in their home s." In the CMHC video, 'Maintaining seniors' indepen- dence throug home adapta- tions,' a programn host uses a talk show format to ask a, panel of health care experts a variety of common questions about hnorne adaptations. The video is complemented by a self-assessment guide that allows viewers tou a apprailse their own living situation and determine the options that best meet their needs. Many inexpensive ideas are highlighted in the video, including a easy -te-use bottie opener, a door-kcey extension handle and a, long-handled 'reacher' that can solve a lot of bending or reaching problems for seniors. The video can be purchased for $9.95 or bor- rowed from CMHCe' Canadian Housn Informa- tion Centre (CHI), 700 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, Ont. KiA 0P7 (telephone (613) 748- 2367, fax (613) 748-2098). The self-assessment guide booklet is available free of charge from CHIC. The video can also be ordered through an o~ne of CMHC's branch o;csacross Canada. Active Carpet & Tile ~AM RimondCarpet to those who received our Scratch & Win Colour Plyer with THE WRONG ADDRESS. fl SHOUID RED If43 Kig St Wesr (Boscle DoS Cherrsj N WE ARE HERE j King St. TO MAKE'UP, WE WILL UPGRADE- THE UNDERPAD ON FLYER SPECIALS Phone For Details 576-7847 Knitting program helps premature babies Cail 8 PaciUtown Dr. haa-576-1357 MRMMNF- --- - -1-1-1- -- -- - - __Fqnm. - 1 .1 - - -- -1- - - - - , i Marlin Travel Whîtby - 66"266 C-al ow Ajax - 683-8411 1" for km mînut@ bookhgs-l Pickedng - 831-8411 42"723 M