Recorded on: November 18, 2025
Length: 60 minutes
Summary
Lawyer Jeremy Bohbot answers questions about caring for a loved one with dementia, including about powers of attorney, planning for incapacity, making property decisions, and understanding what to do if you suspect abuse.
Highlights
In this webinar, you will learn:
Caring for a loved one in the early stages of dementia
Factors considered when deciding whether a person with early onset Alzheimer's has capacity to sign a power of attorney. [3:30]
How to handle a parent’s bank account and bills when the parent has dementia and hasn’t named an executor in their will or made a power of attorney. [6:55]
Whether an attorney named under a power of attorney can legally appoint another person to take over if they’re concerned that the person they care for will outlive them. [11:45]
Whether a spouse can sell a jointly owned home when the other spouse has dementia and what an enduring power of attorney allows them to do. [13:25]
Supporting a loved one with dementia
Whether you must share information with your siblings about a bank account you hold jointly with a parent who has dementia and whose care you manage. [15:20]
How to prove that you are an attorney appointed under a joint power of attorney when you don’t have the signed power of attorney and the other appointed attorney is representing themselves as the sole attorney. [17:55]
What steps you can take if you think an elderly parent is being taken advantage of by a financial advisor. [22:20]
Concerns about abuse
What you can do when a sibling appointed as attorney under a power of attorney uses a parent’s credit card for personal spending unrelated to the parent’s care. [23:54]
Whether an attorney appointed under a power of attorney can legally remove an adult child from the home of a person with dementia if that person’s child is abusing them or has been stealing money from them. [26:00]
Dealing with a death or an estate
How an adult child named as alternate executor in their parent’s will can step in as executor if the first named executor (the surviving parent) has dementia and can no longer act. [29:50]
How an alternate executor named in the will of a person with dementia can resign and allow for another family member to take their place. [32:35]
How a first named executor in the early stages of Alzheimer’s who does not want to act as executor can pass that role on to the next named executor after the will-maker has died. [34:35]
Rights of beneficiaries
How to ensure that a sibling who has been appointed as attorney under a power of attorney by a parent with dementia and who has control over the other (deceased) parent’s estate keeps proper records and makes good decisions — especially when they are not communicating. [35:20]
Live questions
How to initiate an assessment of a person with progressing dementia to see if they are able to stay alone in their own home or should be placed into a facility to receive care. [40:30]
What happens if someone needs to go into memory care but they are resistant to going and there’s no enduring power of attorney or committeeship. [41:35]
Where there’s no representation agreement and a person with dementia ends up in the hospital, and family members are unable to care for them at their home, whether they would be kept at the hospital or whether the hospital would be able to place them in a care facility. [43:00]
Whether a section 7 representation agreement for finances can be completed for someone with mid-level to advanced dementia. [45:45]
The interplay between a section 7 representation agreement and applying for a committeeship. [49:25]
Whether a stepchild has the same rights as a birth or adopted child in disputing a stepparent’s will, or trying to commit a stepparent who is experiencing dementia. [50:30]
How long it typically takes to apply for a committeeship and whether your first step should be with a lawyer or a physician. [52:50]
What to do if attorneys jointly appointed under an enduring power of attorney (and who must act together) don’t agree. [54:10]
Whether your only options for executors under a will and attorneys under a power of attorney are lawyers when your children live overseas and your friends are also failing. [56:20]
Featuring
Jeremy Bohbot
Jeremy Bohbot is a lawyer and notary public in Vancouver with over 20 years experience practicing in the areas of wills and estates, real estate, and small business law. Jeremy runs a community-based practice assisting ordinary people with their estate planning, including wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, and advance directives. Jeremy also assists executors with the process of probating wills, transmitting estate property to beneficiaries, and preparing estate accounts. Jeremy also handles estate litigation, such as when wills need to be cured, revoked or defended.
Attendee feedback
"A good topic as most of us will probably experience this situation in some way, shape or form. Great presenter as well!"
"Excellent presentation and speaker. The slidedeck of questions is so appreciated — the style of presenting a question is very clear and easy to read. When you read out the question in a moderated and measured way, the viewer can read along. This respects the way different people take in written and oral information, thus inclusivity. Thank you!!!"
"It was a great webinar and very informative to have the pre-questions and also addressing the questions from audience members."
"Phenomenal contribution by your guest Jeremy. VERY informative and comprehensive answers."
"Thank you! The webinar case scenario approach and the speaker's responses were extremely helpful, practical, and helped me move forward in my situation. Much appreciated!"
"Very informative. Great answers to the questions asked. A big thank you."
"The presenting lawyer was very well-informed, presented in a clear and understandable way, articulate, not condescending, and seems well organized and compassionate. Legalese can be confusing so this was very helpful, thank you!"
"Thank you so much, Paula, People's Team and Jeremy! We appreciate your help in enlightening your audience!"
"A great speaker, and I like the answering questions approach as it covers many situations."
"Great work again People's Law — keep doing these presentations — they are helpful on many levels — thanks."
"Not every hero wears a cape, and you prove it every single day. You are absolutely amazing! ❤️ Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work and time you pour into every webinar."
Additional resources
On capacity to make planning documents:
On personal planning:
If planning isn’t done in advance:
On reporting abuse under a power of attorney:
Seniors Abuse & Information Line (SAIL) from Seniors First BC
Designated agencies in British Columbia to receive reports of elder abuse
On dealing with an estate:
Who can step forward to be administrator of someone’s estate
Step-by-step guide on applying to be the administrator of an estate
Support for people experiencing dementia and their caregivers:
First Link Dementia Helpline, at 1-800-936-6033, a province-wide service for people living with dementia, their caregivers and family
Alzheimer Society of BC, including Alzheimer Resource Centres around the province
BC Dementia Care Society, a non-profit focused on improving quality of life for people with dementia and their care partners