Planning Your Future Series

This video series was made as part of a partnership project between Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) and Dementia Australia (DA) funded as part of the Victorian Government’s Integrated Services Fund. The videos provide vital information and insights in the ways people can formalise their wishes and plan ahead for peace of mind, if a time came when they could not make decisions for themselves.

Available in other community languages. Click here to view.

If you have any comments of questions as a result of watching these videos, please contact info@seniorsrights.org.au

Facilitators guide

If you are interested in using these videos as part of an information session, we suggest you use our Facilitators Guide to help you lead the discussion and respond to questions.

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How to use these videos

You can watch these videos in two ways, either one longer video, which contains all the information in one session, or as five shorter videos that can be watched one at a time and followed up with a discussion, before moving on to the next video.

If you have any comments of questions as a result of watching these videos, please contact info@seniorsrights.org.au

1. Planning your future

Thinking about a time when you are not able to make your own decisions can be tough but it’s important to think ahead. This video offers a guide about why it’s important to plan for your future, how to talk to those you trust, what decisions they may need to make for you, and what you can do if you decide you are not happy with the decisions they make.

2. Why plan for the future?

We’re good at making plans for holidays, or catching up with friends, but we’re not so good at discussing and planning for the things we’re not looking forward to. This video explains the importance of planning ahead, to give you and those close to you peace of mind about the future.

3. Having conversations about the future

Choosing the right person, or people, to entrust with making decisions on your behalf can be tough. You need to ensure they understand what you hope for and what you may require of them. This video will help you find ways to have this difficult conversation and keep a clear record of what you want.

4. Capacity to make decisions

Sometimes your capacity to make decisions for yourself can be altered. This might be around certain decisions only and can be long term or short term. This video explains what it means to have the capacity to make decisions and how the law can ensure you get to make decisions for yourself whenever you have the capacity.

5. What decisions can my appointed attorney make?

When you appoint someone as your attorney under a Power of Attorney (POA) you entrust them to make decisions on your behalf, when you are unable or unwilling to make them yourself, or you don’t have the capacity to do so for yourself.
This video explains what sort of decisions your appointed attorney can make. It also explains what to do if you are unhappy with the decisions they are making.

6. Obligations of an attorney

Being asked to be an attorney for someone can be a big responsibility. By navigating the process well, you can reduce stress and be confident you are doing the right thing. This video outlines some of the key things you need to know and discuss with the person asking you to be their attorney.