As we prepare for the return to school year, you might be in the process of paying your child’s tuition or living expenses. Do you know what raising a child cost? Contrary to the figures below, it doesn’t stop when they reach 18 years of age. In 2011, the average cost of raising a child to 18, was $243,660* or $1,070 per month. For those of us in the sandwich….
Caring and Paying in 2 Directions Continue Reading »
Elder Care, Geriatric Care ManagementThe Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) has undertaken a project to examine and review Ontario’s laws related to legal capacity, decision –making and guardianship. Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of attending one of their focus groups. Spokespersons from various groups were there representing those with autism, mental health issues and the hearing impaired, to name a few. While the disability groups may have different issues, there was more….
Legal Capacity, Decision-making and Guardianship Continue Reading »
Estate PlanningWhen everybody knows your name but very few know you. I read an obit that appeared as an announcement in a sports blog from markhebscher who read about it from Scott@randomjaysstuff. The announcement read ‘Toronto’s Witness to Sports History is Dead’. Oddly enough I knew Ralph, or should I say our family knew of Ralph, better known as ‘Ralph the Programme Guy’. In fact, in the mid 80’s we lived….
Ralph, the Programme Guy Continue Reading »
International“For most people in the developed world, conversations about such topics (as death) never take place. Young people remark in passing that they would rather be dead than go into a nursing home; that they do not want to die in hospital; that they do not want a drawn-out, agonising end. The closer that end is, the less it is talked about. The result is that hard choices are made….
The End of Life-Discussion Continue Reading »
Estate Planning, Home-Left, InternationalStatistics Canada released last week (Sept 24, 2014) the latest data on Young Canadians providing care. This information uses data from the 2012 General Social Survey on Caregiving and Care Receiving. In 2012, 27% of young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 29 provided some form of care to a family member. Grandparents were the primary care recipients. The study found that young carers typically spend about three hours….
Young Carers: The Canadian Version Continue Reading »
Estate PlanningWorld Alzheimer’s Month, which was launched in 2012 is observed in September every year. This year it was yesterday, September 21, 2014. The Alzheimers Society shares that dementia is a general term that refers to a variety of brain disorders. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. We still do not have a Canadian dementia strategy, however there are initiatives underway. The recommendations from the 2010 Rising Tide….
September is World Alzheimer’s Month Continue Reading »
Estate Planning