When a parent can no longer live independently, moving them into a care facility raises important legal questions. Here's what BC adult children need to have in order before — and after — the move.
Moving a parent into a care facility is one of the hardest decisions a family makes. Beyond the emotional weight, there are important legal and financial questions that need to be addressed — and many families don't realize how much needs to be in place until they're already in the middle of a crisis. This checklist is designed to help adult children in BC prepare.
Before the Move: Legal Documents
The most important thing to confirm before a parent moves into a care facility is whether their legal documents are in order. Specifically:
*Do they have an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)?*
This document authorizes someone to manage financial affairs if the parent loses capacity. Without it, no one — not even a spouse or child — can manage their money, pay their bills, or handle their property without a court order. If your parent still has capacity, the time to create an EPA is now, before the move, not after.
*Do they have a Representation Agreement?*
This authorizes someone to make personal and healthcare decisions. In a care facility, decisions about medical treatment, medication, and changes in care level arise. A Section 9 Representation Agreement gives the representative the broadest authority. Without one, healthcare providers will use the statutory substitute decision-maker hierarchy — which may not align with your parent's wishes.
*Do they have a current will?*
Moving into a care facility is often a significant life change that warrants reviewing an existing will. Is the executor still alive and willing? Are beneficiaries still accurate? Does the will address what happens to the family home if it needs to be sold to fund care?
The Family Home: What Happens to It
One of the most financially significant questions when a parent moves into residential care is what happens to their home. Options include:
- Keeping it (renting it out to generate income while maintaining it)
- Selling it (to fund care costs)
- Transferring it to a child or other family member (which carries legal and tax implications)
BC's home transfer rules and capital gains tax exemption rules are complex, and the decision has long-term consequences. If the parent eventually needs government-subsidized care, their assets — including proceeds from a home sale — factor into what they pay. A lawyer can help you understand the options before making an irreversible decision.
Government-Subsidized Care: What You Need to Know
In BC, the cost of publicly funded residential care is income-tested. Seniors pay a portion of their income toward care costs, up to a maximum monthly rate. The specific amount is calculated by BC Health based on assessed net income. Understanding this before the move can help with financial planning.
Note: transferring assets (like a home) to a family member to reduce a parent's assessable assets can attract legal scrutiny and is not a strategy to pursue without careful legal advice.
Consent to Care
Care facilities require informed consent to admission and to the care plan. If your parent has capacity, they must consent themselves. If they lack capacity, the authorized representative (under a Representation Agreement) or the substitute decision-maker hierarchy makes those decisions.
Watch for situations where a parent is being admitted without meaningful consent — this is a legal and ethical issue. Care facility residents in BC have the right to refuse treatment, request to leave, and have their rights explained to them.
During the Move: Practical Steps
- Bring copies of the EPA, Representation Agreement, and will — or store them securely where they can be found
- Inform the care facility's admissions team who is authorized to make decisions on your parent's behalf
- Obtain a list of the facility's policies on resident rights, complaints, and dispute resolution
- Record an inventory of valuables being brought into the facility — theft and loss do occur
After the Move: Ongoing Legal Responsibilities
If you hold a power of attorney, you now have ongoing legal obligations. Keep separate records of all financial transactions made on your parent's behalf. Keep their finances separate from your own. Act in their best interests, not your own convenience.
If family members disagree about how financial or care decisions are being made, a lawyer can help mediate or, if necessary, bring the matter to court.
A Final Note
Moving a parent into a care facility is the beginning of a new phase, not the end of a process. Legal documents, financial arrangements, and family communication all need ongoing attention. The families who navigate this period best are typically those who planned ahead — but even if you're starting late, getting proper legal advice now prevents much larger problems later.
Yes, if they have capacity. A person with capacity must give informed consent to care facility admission. If capacity is lost, the authorized representative under a Representation Agreement, or the substitute decision-maker hierarchy, can consent on their behalf.
The home can be kept, rented, sold, or transferred — each option has financial and legal implications. If government-subsidized care is involved, the value of assets (including home sale proceeds) affects how much your parent pays toward care. Legal advice before deciding is strongly recommended.
Yes. Without an Enduring Power of Attorney, you have no legal authority to manage a parent's finances — even as a spouse or adult child. If your parent still has capacity, creating one now is urgent. If capacity is already lost, you'll need to apply to court for a committee order.
Residents have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, to refuse treatment, to receive information about their care plan, to have visitors, to make complaints, and in many cases to leave. BC's care facility legislation sets out these rights and requires facilities to inform residents of them.