a senior to choose supported decision-making . This reflects a fundamental move away from the old-fashioned idea that an individual was either completely capable of looking after everything alone or was completely incapable of handling anything at all . The new law takes into consideration that everyone is different and that seniors only want the help they need , not someone to take over every aspect of their lives .

Other changes are beginning to be reflected in modern laws as well . Seniors as a group are asserting their rights and making their needs known to legislators . For example , back in 1962 there was simply no such thing as grandparents ’ rights . In those days , if someone was divorced and did not have custody of his or her children , that person ’ s parents were often prevented by the custodial parent from seeing their grandchildren for reasons that had nothing to do with the grandparents .

This remained the norm for many years , to the detriment of seniors who lost touch with precious grandchildren . It is only in the last few years that grandparents have made significant legal headway on this issue , but the result is impressive . Now , Alberta ’ s Family Law

Act gives grandparents the right to apply to the court for an order allowing them contact with their grandchildren when they cannot come to an agreement with the guardian of the grandchildren .

The flip side of any right is , of course , responsibility . The same holds true for grandparents . A situation in which a grandparent rather than a parent is raising a child is nothing new ; it has happened in every era . However , it ’ s only recently that a grandparent in this situation is held to be required by law to treat that grandchild as a child for the purpose of inheriting .

As of 2011 , Alberta ’ s Wills and Succession Act says when a grandparent has raised a grandchild , that grandchild may sue the deceased grandparent ’ s estate for support if the grandparent doesn ’ t make adequate provision in his or her will . This is just the same as a child who has been reared by his or her own parents suing a deceased parent ’ s estate for support that has not been included in the will .

So what have the last fifty years meant for seniors in terms of legal issues ? There ’ s no doubt that things have changed for the better .

We challenge every branch of ARTA to see how far they can walk in twenty days ! 20 people , 20 pedometers , 20 days in June

Twenty people from each branch will each receive a pedometer and a recording card .

Participants will keep a record of the distance he or she walks each day for 20 days in June , 2013 .

How far will you go ?

Branch presidents ( or a representative ) will receive the pedometers and record cards at the May 2013 board meeting . After branch participants have completed their twenty-day walks , branch presidents will be asked to collect the cards and send them to the ARTA office to be tabulated . The Wellness Committee will announce results and give out prizes at the AGM in the fall .

News & Views Spring 2013 9