Empower yourself with crucial legal knowledge for aging clients. Master substitute decision-making, consent, and capacity to confidently navigate legal risks and safeguard your clients .

Welcome to "Aging & Law: Substitute Decision-Making, Consent & Capacity," a vital component of the comprehensive "Aging in the Law" series. Created and presented by Dr. Laura Watts, former National Director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, this course is designed for professionals seeking a clear, practical understanding of the legal intricacies involved in serving older clients.
In this crucial section, we delve into the complexities surrounding a client's decision-making ability. You will gain foundational knowledge on how to recognize signs of diminished capacity, understand the nuances of consent, and navigate the landscape of advance care planning. We will explore the various forms of financial powers of attorney, their applications, limitations, and unfortunately, their potential for misuse. Furthermore, as clients often live, travel, or own property across various provinces or even countries, we will address the challenges posed by inter-jurisdictional issues.
Key learning outcomes include:
By the end of this course, you will be equipped with practical tools to better support your clients' autonomy, protect their rights, and safeguard your own professional practice, recognizing when to respond with confidence and when to refer.

Age-Friendly Business® has been a leader in education and training since 2003, helping professionals and businesses excel in the rapidly growing age 50+ market. Through our internationally recognized courses and programs, we provide practical insights, proven strategies, and pre-approved Continuing Education credits. Our courses blend research-based knowledge with real-world applications, preparing professionals to engage ethically and effectively with maturing clients and customers. With over 50 modules spanning health, law, trends, leadership, and business growth, Age-Friendly Business® provides the tools, resources, and confidence to elevate client trust and deliver meaningful value in today’s $15 trillion longevity economy.

CEO of CanAge
Laura Tamblyn Watts is the CEO of CanAge, Canada’s national seniors’ advocacy organization and a frequently sought-after global expert on aging issues. She has previously served as Chief Public Policy Officer at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (2018–2019) and in a number of positions at the Canadian Centre for Elder Law including as their long-time National Director (2004–2018). She is an Assistant Professor (status) at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. Laura is a lawyer and was called to the Bar in 1999.
Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.
Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.