Planning ahead - Powers of Attorney and "Living Wills" - Personal care

Power of Attorney for personal care is a document that allows another person (substitute decision maker or "attorney") to make decisions about your personal care. Your attorney would have the authority to make decisions for you about your medical care and other aspects of your care when you are no longer able to do so.

If you become incapable of making personal care decisions, for some decisions, including those about your medical treatment, the law says your doctor and other healthcare providers must get your substitute decision-maker's consent before taking action.

Source: The information above was adapted with permission from:

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE). (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care. 

Personal care decisions involve medical treatment, health care, housing, clothing, hygiene, diet and safety.

Source: The information above was adapted with permission from:

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE). (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care. 

A Power of Attorney for personal care takes effect only if you become incapable of making either some or all of your personal care decisions(1).

This would likely be your attorney, unless you have identified someone else in your Power of Attorney who needs to be contacted for verification purposes.

Source: The information above was adapted with permission from:

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE). (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care. 

If you give instructions, then your Power of Attorney must follow these instructions. If your Power of Attorney does not know of any instructions or you did not leave any, they must make decisions based on your best interests.

Source: The information above was adapted with permission from:

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE). (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care. 

Your Power of Attorney is only able to make decisions that you are incapable to make.

Source: The information above was adapted with permission from:

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE). (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care. 

Only you can make a Power of Attorney. 

Source: The information above was adapted with permission from:

Community Legal Education Ontario. (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.

The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE). (October 2010). Power of attorney for personal care.