Blog

Details: Published: 30 November 2016

Older adults often develop health related issues as they age, In that situation, they may need care and support from family. In some families, this leads to conflict over finances or care issues. This conflict may occur between the older adult and the adult children or between the adult children. Sometimes these conflicts can become so extreme that family relationships are damaged. In a worst-case scenario, a family member may take advantage of the situation to gain access to the elderly parents' money. This is heartbreaking for all concerned.

Family members can apply financial literacy skills to prevent these conflicts or to resolve them once they have arisen. The term “financial literacy” refers to the ability to understand financial decisions and to manage money. This term is often applied to basic financial management skills such as forming a budget and paying bills on time. However, the concept is much broader. The term ‘financial literacy’ refers to the skills and knowledge that allow an individual to make informed and effective decisions with all of their financial resources. This includes good financial planning for the future. Take, for example, the situation of Mrs. Brown.

Mrs. Brown is 85 years old. She has three adult children: Martha, John and Suzie. Mrs. Brown has always been ‘healthy as a horse’. However, she recently had a stroke. The damage from her stroke limits her ability to carry out tasks such as shopping and meal preparation. As well, she is sometimes confused about financial decisions. She now struggles to pay her monthly bills. Her three children are in conflict about what to do. Martha and John believe that Mrs. Brown should move into a care home. Mrs. Brown wants to continue to live at home and Suzie supports this decision. This dispute escalates into an unpleasant and ongoing conflict between siblings. After a few months of conflict, Mrs. Brown has a second stroke. She is no longer able to get out of bed and, whenever her children try to ask her for an opinion she says, “whatever you think dear”. The disagreement between the children about what to do continues to escalate. Unfortunately, Mrs. Brown did not appoint any of her children as power of attorney or her legal representative for health decisions so it is not clear who has legal authority to make a decision. The adult children cannot agree about where Mrs. Brown should live or who should pay for her care. The three adult children continue to argue and no resolution is in sight.

One of the reasons for this dispute is because it is not clear who has the authority to make decisions. Mrs. Brown did not grant any of her children the authority to make decisions pursuant to a Power of Attorney or a Representation Agreement. Nor did she communicate her wishes to her family members in advance of her stroke. All three of her children have good intentions and want to do what is best for her, but they do not agree about what this is.

This conflict could have been avoided if Mrs. Brown had made her wishes clear prior to her stroke, while she had full mental capacity. However, there still is an option available. This option is family mediation. A mediator is a neutral third party who is trained to help resolve disputes. In this situation, the mediator would meet with Mrs. Brown and the three adult children to find out what the issues are. Then the mediator would help Mrs. Brown and the three adult children to create a plan for the future. This plan could include where Mrs. Brown would live, how to pay for this accommodation and other care details.

Elder mediation is a very promising approach. Elders can use their financial literacy skills and can proactively make plans for future management of their finances in the event of health issues. Financial planning includes choosing trusted family members or friend to manage money and to make health care situation should the older adult no longer be able to do so. Financial planning is an important aspect of financial literacy.

In situations where the older adult’s health has deteriorated, where there is no care plan in place and where family members cannot agree on how to proceed, mediation is an option. With the help of a mediator, Mrs. Brown will be able to explain her wishes regarding her finances and future care. With the assistance of the mediator, Mrs. Brown and her three adult children will be able to create a financial plan for the future.

Financial planning should include a consideration of how to proceed when an unexpected health issue arises. The optimum approach is to create a plan in advance. In situations such as the one described in the Mrs. Brown scenario, where health issues are already present and there is a family conflict over how to proceed, a mediator can help older adults and their families create and implement a financial plan. Being aware of these issues is an important aspect of financial literacy and helps protect the future well-being of older adults.

About the author

joanbraun headshot 2016 Joan Braun, LLB, MSW, RSW is a registered social worker and a lawyer. Joan has been working as a mediator in private practice since 2004 and her current area of specialty is resolving disputes between older adults and their families. In addition to work as a mediation practitioner, Joan has studied academically in the field. She has two graduate degrees, one in law and one in social work. She has published two peer-reviewed papers published and has authored other materials. Joan has more than 8 years experience in senior management in the social justice sector, including 5.5 years as executive director of the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support (BCCEAS) and Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta (CPLEA), organizations with a focus on older adult issues. At BC CEAS Joan oversaw the establishment of the first legal aid clinic for older adults in Western Canada, and a diverse range of other programs for older adults who had experienced abuse. In the summer of 2015 Joan left a management position to return to private practice as a mediator and lawyer. She is also studying towards a PhD in law. She is the current Canadian Bar Association representative to BC's Committee to Reduce Elder Abuse and is on the Board of CNPEA.

Details: Published: 02 November 2016

By Margaret Easton

As we enter Financial Literacy Month (FLM) 2016, I want to draw attention to a topic I believe warrants closer attention in Canada’s financial literacy strategy. Financial literacy strategies in Canada currently pursue three specific goals in order to improve the financial literacy and financial health of Canadians of all ages. This strategy includes a focus on teaching Canadians to 1) manage debt wisely; 2) save for the future and, 3) understand their rights and responsibilities. I certainly strongly support the current focus on improving financial health using these steps. However, recent research is increasingly suggesting that a lack of financial literacy doesn’t just have consequences for our financial health. A lack of financial literacy can also have serious consequences for our emotional, psychological, and functional/physical health in a number of ways, particularly with respect to the health consequences associated with financial mistreatment and abuse. While people of all ages can experience financial mistreatment and fraud, and the resulting negative health outcomes, the research suggests the health consequences are particularly damaging for older adults.

Details: Published: 23 September 2016

By Rasha Ashraf, Newcomer Women's Services newcomer womens services

Newcomer Women’s Services is a nonprofit organization that provides services to recently arrived immigrant women, in areas such as employment, settlement, English language development and others. Our service population is diverse, which means our students reflect a myriad of cultures and ages. We have a substantial senior population and it is important for us to advocate the challenges that they face in life, especially in a new country.

Elders are vital members of our society, as they are an anchor from which the younger generation can learn and grow. Their experiences hold a wealth of information and they are a direct connection to our culture and heritage. But we often lose sight of their value and subjugate them to a life of neglect and loneliness.

Too often when we speak of issues such as neglect and abuse, we take on a passive role and simply say “that’s awful” or “it is so unfortunate”. The most common response is to graze over the issue, never fully internalizing the reality of the problem. This video does not just highlight the issue but it puts real faces to it. These are real people. The visual aspect creates a powerful connection to these elders and helps us take their message to heart. There were, of course, challenges in making this video. From project management to transcending language barriers and helping our participants understand the concept of the video and get comfortable in front of the camera. However, the success of this video is evident on their faces, as we highlight what our seniors want to see and receive from the wider community. Featuring younger members in the video also reiterates our message: to change our perception of elders and to really make a difference, we need the support of our youngest generations. We have had an amazing response online as our video has close to 2,000 views on YouTube.

Our video seeks to raise awareness in the community and beyond by starting a vital conversation about the lives of our seniors. Join us today, so that together, we can stand up for elder rights and make it a just world for all seniors.

Related resource: Check out Newcomer Women's Services' Promising Project: Under the Mango Tree

Details: Published: 22 September 2016

CNPEA would like to thanks its members for attending the Network’s 2016 AGM and voting in a new slate of officers. Congratulations to our newly elected members: Sherry Baker, Leah Cohen, Susan Crichton,Andrew Elinesky, Jennifer Gurke, Kelly Heisz, Barb Hood, Kathy Majowski, Sharon McKenzie, Par Power, Raeann Rideout and Jocelyn Yerxa. (To know more about our Board members, check out Who We Are)

CNPEA would also like to thank its outgoing Board members - Olive Bryanton, Elliot PausJenssen, Elizabeth Podnieks, and Terry Rideout - for their tireless commitment to supporting the Network's growth and development as a national organization.