Elder Law

Total 116 Posts

In What Circumstances Can an Attorney for Personal Care Restrict Visitors from Visiting an Incapacitated Person in a Long-Term Care Home?

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Adult daughter and her mother drinking tea and chatting

Anna Chen, Associate, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP This was the question addressed in the recent decision Orr v Orr, 2025 ONSC 4986. In Orr, 82-year-old William Orr (“Bill”) was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer’s Disease and moved into a secure ward at McCormick Home, an accredited long-term care home in London, Ontario.  His capacity to manage personal care was put into dispute in the application.  The applicant was Bill’s wife Gwen….

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Caregiving, Elder Care, Elder Law, Geriatric Care Management, Healthcare, Power of Attorney

Navigating Mental Capacity and Guardianship in Ontario’s Estates Law: Lessons from Francois v. Francois, 2025 ONSC 589

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By: Maddi Thomas, associate and Sukhman Sangha, articling student Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP   Mental capacity continues to be a growing area of focus in estates law. Capacity, defined under the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992 (“SDA”) as the ability to understand and appreciate decision consequences, is assessed through medical and legal evaluations. Declining capacity heightens vulnerability to financial abuse, such as unauthorized transactions or neglect by fiduciaries like guardians unaware….

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Capacity Law, Elder Care, Elder Law, Elder Management

The Last “ism”

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Scotiatrust

This blog post was written by Hannah Zip, Estate and Trust Consultant, Scotiatrust Toronto People over the age of 65 accounted for 19% of the Canadian population in 2023, according to Statistics Canada. This diverse and growing group of individuals commonly encounters ageism, one of the remaining socially accepted “isms”. Ageism is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as discrimination against people due to negative, inaccurate stereotypes and prejudices….

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Elder Care, Elder Law, Estate Planning, Smart Ageing, Testamentary Capacity

Suffering In Silence: A Closer Look at Elder Abuse

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This blog post was written by Dave Madan, Senior Manager, Scotiatrust Elder abuse remains one of the most underreported and misunderstood social issues, often concealed beneath the veneer of familial obligations and trust-based relationships. For professionals, understanding the intricate dimensions of elder abuse is not only a matter of professional competence but also a moral imperative. Elder abuse transcends socioeconomic boundaries, manifesting in affluent communities as well as modest households,….

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Caregiving, Elder Care, Elder Law, Elder Management, Guardianship, Uncategorized, Undue influence

Lam v Law Estate: Gender bias permits variation of discriminatory will

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Today’s blog post was written by Latoya Brown, an Associate at Fasken LLP. The discussion of discriminatory wills continues with a new case out of the British Columbia Supreme Court. In Lam v Law Estate, 2024 BCSC 156, the court varied a testatrix’s will on the reasoning that the testatrix’s bias did not meet contemporary standards of fairness. The testatrix was survived by her two independent adult children, her son….

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Capacity Law, Caregiving, Compensation, Contested wills, Courts, Dependant Support, Elder Law, Estate Administration, Estate Administration and Probate Applications, Estate Litigation, Estate Planning, Family Conflict, Succession Planning, Uncategorized, Wills

Update on Dementia Epidemic: Incidence, Prevention, and Care

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Cartoon of a big white brain behind an older adult walking with a cane to represent dementia.

Cases of dementia are rising at an alarming rate, creating a public health crisis. At some point, most of us will either know someone living with dementia or someone who is caring for a person with the disease. As advisors, we must become proactive and purposeful by learning about dementia and its impact on clients. So, here are the latest research updates on the incidence, prevention, and care of dementia…..

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Capacity Law, Elder Care, Elder Law, Elder Management
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