Monday, May 26, 2014

8 Beauty Tips for Mature Skin

Most Baby Boomers know the do's and don'ts of makeup.

However, below are 8 simple tips that can help maintain your good looks and preserve your outer beauty!


#1- Say NO to tanning salons and spending hours unprotected in the sun. The sun has been linked to causing wrinkles, age spots and skin damage. Over time, tanning salons will ruin your skin's protective properties and tarnish your good looks.

#2- Use a sunscreen with a MINIMUM of 15 daily and make sure it includes UVA and UVB protection.

#3- Eye cream and a good anti-aging moisturizer used daily along with a good intake of water will keep your skin hydrated and looking healthy from the inside out. I recommend this cream from SBT Seabuckthorn on my mature clients. I also recommend this hand cream for daily use.

#4- Less is more. Stay away from eyeshadows that have a metallic, glitter or super frosted finish as they draw attention to wrinkles. Instead choose satin and matte finishes for the eyes and cream finishes for the cheeks and skin.

#5- Love the look of eyeliner? Try switching to a pencil liner instead of liquid as it's more forgiving around fine lines.

#6- Eyebrows frame your face so don't be afraid to fill them in subtly. Fuller brows add to a more youthful look. Try powder fillers instead of pencils for a soft natural look.

#7- Mascara can really help lift the eyes so don't be afraid to apply 1-2 coats. If you aren't sure you want a bold look, try brown mascara instead of black.

#8- Lips can look dull with a darker lip shade except on those with darker skin. To try a fresh, youthful look, try a slightly lighter shade of lipstick or your favourite gloss in the centre of your lips which can help create the look of a fuller lip.

By: Farah Brumwell, Beauty Expert at  Agecomfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Bill Hartmann

Monday, May 12, 2014

Leggo Your Ego

From the time we are born to this very moment, our subconscious mind is recording what happens in our lives. The actions, reactions, thoughts and opinions expressed by others become embedded in who we think ourselves to be. These messages get played back hundreds of times during the day. Don't talk to strangers is an appropriate message for a four-year old, but not for a 24-year old about to walk into a job interview.

The Ego is us operating from this small sense of self. The True Self is the part of us that is beyond time and space, expansive, motivated by love, forgiveness, compassion and generosity.


The path from Ego to True Self lies in our consciousness -our awareness of the Ego's actions and taking alternate decisions. Perhaps your Ego tells you not to share a new idea with your colleagues because someone might steal or run away with it. Your True Self knows sharing the idea will make it bigger and help create a more powerful impact as a result. Your True Self also knows when to speak and when to hold silence.

There's freedom and power in your choice. When you decide based on previous experience, you will get some version of what has always happened. When you choose from a place of clarity, you hold the door open for a whole new range or possibility. The Ego is a little uncomfortable with that and you may hear a little voice shout out random warnings. Go through with it anyway. Give yourself the gift of opportunity, possibility and a new version of your life.

Meditation is a powerful way to adjust the Ego and clear the subconscious mind. Try this one:


By: Salimah Kassim-Lakha, Health & Yoga Expert at Agecomfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Martin Long

Monday, April 28, 2014

Every Day Living with Parkinson’s


Depending upon your age of onset, how you manage the symptoms, and your general health, you can live an active life with Parkinson's. In most cases, one's life is not shortened. However, as you age and as the disease progresses, there will be increased risks. For example, impaired balance can lead to pneumonia. Parkinson's is known as a chronic (long term) condition that will require ongoing monitoring and management to maintain one's quality of life.

Each person with Parkinson's is unique and each person may experience different symptoms. However, since Parkinson's is a progressive condition, symptoms will worsen over time and new ones may appear. It is difficult to estimate how quickly or slowly Parkinson's will progress in each person. It may progress more quickly in people who are older when the symptoms first begin. Parkinson's may progress less quickly when the main symptoms is tremor, especially when it starts on one side.

What approach can I take? 

Learn as much as you can about Parkinson's. Your local Parkinson Society has many resources to help you manage the condition.

Reducing stress in your life will make a difference. Join a Parkinson support group. Some people find yoga and tai chi helpful. Humor can also be a great stress reducer. Staying as active as possible and maintaining a positive attitude is important. Many people find that a creative activity such as painting, singing, playing an instrument, dancing or writing poetry helps. Even if Parkinson's affects your balance, you can still have a balanced life!

What do I need to know to plan my life? 

Take a stock of your life and communicate with those who are close to you (care partner, family, friends).

Work options. Discuss options with your employer, such as adaptive technology or reduced work load. If it becomes necessary, find out if retiring early is an option. Many people who reduce their workloads find they are able to focus on managing their Parkinson's (e.g. more time to keep physically fit).

Finances. Will your benefit/medical plan cover drugs and other expenses, such as speech therapy? Do you have a retirement and/or pension plan? Do you qualify for disability insurance or the disability tax credit? Contact disability professionals before reducing your work hours to determine if this will affect the amount of eligible funding.

Legal and health planning issues. Discuss power of attorney and advance care planning with your family now. Discuss what quality of life means for you. By talking about these issues now, you can impact your care in the future (*Information on advance care planning varies from province to province. Contact your local Parkinson Society for appropriate resources).

Care issues. Seek the care of a neurologist or movement disorder specialist. Together you can develop a care plan that will meet your needs. Monitor your symptoms and communicate any changes so adjustments to medications can be made.

Personal choices. As Parkinson's progresses, you will be faces with making choices about your life. Symptoms and medications can affect your ability to drive safely. Knowing this may happen and planning for it can make the decision easier. You may choose to stop driving.

Are you newly diagnosed? 

The Parkinson's journey will be different for everyone. To help you stay the course, think about what is important to you. Some things to consider may include:

  • How you will manage your Parkinson's symptons
  • How you will minimize the side effects of medications
  • How you will maintain your emotional well-being
  • How to ensure you continue your work or hobbies
  • How you will maintain relationships with family and friends
  • How you will maintain your independence 
Whatever you choose, maintaining your quality of life on a daily basis is important. 

Where can I find information? 

Contact your regional Parkinson Society or visit www.parkinson.ca.

April is Parkinson's Awareness month. Parkinson Society Canada salutes the everyday heroes who demonstrate extraordinary hope.  


Photot Credit: Tim Parkinson

Monday, April 14, 2014

Tips for Caregivers

Parkinson's is a family disease; one that takes a team of involved and supportive loved ones to help a person with Parkinson's thrive. In most cases however, the bulk of responsibility lies with one main care partner -a spouse, a child, or a friend. For this individual, life is changed forever and they must take on many new roles when their loved one is diagnosed with Parkinson's. Theirs is a demanding job involving compromise, encouragement and strength. Their focus is on providing emotional and physical support, advocating on behalf of their loved one, and learning all that they can about Parkinson's disease. 



Lessons Learned
Over and over care partners report similar experienced about the challenges they face. Because of the progressive nature of Parkinson's, a care partner is challenged to know what degree of support their loved one needs at any given time. It is important that a person with Parkinson's is encouraged to speak for themselves and manage their own life for as long as possible; however, the care partner is a key member of the team. The relationship is sometimes described as one that begins as "partner" and evolves into "care provider". 

Here are a few practical steps for care partners to follow: 
  1. Be an active member of the team: Attend medical appointments and be involved in every decision about your loved one's care. Research shows that people with actively involved care partners tend to do better. 
  2. Ask questions until you understand the answer: Parkinson's is a complex, neurodegenerative disorder and as such, there is a lot to understand. Don't hesitate to ask questions until you feel comfortable that both you and your loved one understand the answer fully -this includes information about medication (what it's for, side effects, when to take, things to avoid). 
  3. Keep your loved one honest: People tend to leave out important pieces of information when speaking with their doctor/neurologist either due to embarrassment or they simply think it doesn't matter. It is very important that care partners encourage their loved ones to tell their doctor everything including symptoms, changes in behaviour, other medications or supplements. 
  4. Speak up for your loved one: Sometimes people with Parkinson's simply cannot communicate for themselves so care partners must speak up for them. 
  5. Know what hospitals and/or care facilities have expertise with Parkinson's disease: Lack of Parkinson's education is the primary complaint that Canadians with Parkinson's and their care partners have about health care professionals coast-to-coast. If you have the opportunity, choose a facility that understands how to best care for someone with Parkinson's disease. 
  6. Get to know the nurses: Whether in hospital, a care facility or at the movement disorder clinic, get to know the nurses that will be caring for your loved one. If necessary, explain the importance of administering medications on-time and act as a Parkinson's resource for them -your efforts will not only benefit your loved one, but every person with Parkinson's who needs care in the future. 
  7. Take the opportunity to educate: Whether in a hospital, walking down the street or sitting in a restaurant, chances are that some aspect of Parkinson's will draw the attention of others to your loved one. Make the most of the situation by explaining what is happening and letting others know how they can help. 
  8. Become an expert about supports & services: Find out what kind of support is available in your community and what the criteria for qualification are (home care, disability, CPP, tax credits). 
  9. Befriend another care partner: Having someone who understands your situation can be invaluable. Over 240 Parkinson support groups operate coast-to-coast -simply contact your Parkinson Society Canada regional office to find the group best suited to you. 
You may find additional resources for caregivers online by visiting www.parkinson.ca and clicking on the Living with Parkinson's tab. 


Photo Credit: Rosie O'Beirne

Monday, March 31, 2014

Diet and Nutrition in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's is a chronic degenerative neurological disease caused by loss of dopamine in the brain. When the dopamine producing cells die, Parkinson's symptoms appear.

Good nutrition can help you maintain a better level of well-being when you have Parkinson's. The quality of your diet will have an impact on reaching a healthy weight, maintaining optimal energy and providing adequate muscle strength.



There are three main areas of concern for people with Parkinson's: weight loss or gain and constipation.

Weight Loss
Weight loss may occur in up to 70% of people living with Parkinson's. A number of factors may contribute to the problem: difficulty preparing food, including fatigue; problems chewing or swallowing; constipation, reduced appetite perhaps due to loss of sense of smell, depression or changes in cognitive ability.

Weight Gain/Overweight
Some people with Parkinson's may be overweight and this may lead to other health problems. Stringent diets may decrease your energy. Compulsive (binge eating) may be a side effect of Parkinson medications. If you are experiencing this behaviour, tell your neurologist and/or doctor.

Constipation
Your diet can have a significant impact on constipation. Two key dietary recommendations for managing constipation are: eat high fiber foods and drink more fluid. Being constipated can slow the absorption of your Parkinson medication, thereby minimizing its effectiveness. Constipation can be treated. More information is available in the brochure on Constipation (PDF).

Other Helpful Resources
Visit Parkinson Society Canada's website for more information and resources on diet and nutrition related to Parkinson's disease. Contact Parkinson Society Canada to request a free Manual for People Living with Parkinson's Disease and find out about the Progression of Parkinson's Disease (PDF) and other resources for individuals and health professionals.

By: Grace Ferrari, Parkinson Expert at Agecomfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Michael Fludkov

Monday, March 24, 2014

When the Parenting Roles Reverse: Parenting your Parents with Respect and Dignity

It's inevitable, we age, and there comes a time for all of us lucky enough to have our parents with us into their later years, when the parenting roles reverse.

The parents who have taken care of you and watched over your shoulder as you grew and matured are now relying on you to help them meet their needs.


For your parents, depending on you is a lesson in humility and can bring a range of emotions they may not have expected such as guilt, frustration or even depression or embarrassment.

Transitioning into the role of primary caregiver for your parents in need of parenting is no less difficult for you. Having to make decisions that affect their life, independence and care makes many a son and daughter feel uncomfortable and doubtful as to whether or not they've made the right choices.

Help yourself help your elderly loved ones:

Base Decisions on Respect and Dignity

Respect who your parents are and their wishes of how they would like to live out their life as best you can. They may have a living will or have spoken with you before. Use this to guide you when and if they are unable to express their preferences themselves, as seen in those with Alzheimer's disease.

Don't Leave Difficult Decisions Too Late 

Communication is they key to understanding your parent's situation, feelings, needs and wants. Don't leave difficult but necessary conversations too late, such as 'what would you want to happen when you can no longer bathe by yourself?'
Learn about the preferences your parents have and take note.

Clarify Expectations

Being the primary caregiver in a family can often be a willing burden. You want to help, you feel expected to help, but it takes more than one. If your siblings or involved relatives expect you to care for Mom or Dad, clarify how they expect to contribute. They can help with finances, do the shopping, organize the home care schedules or give you respite breaks when needed.

Don't Neglect Yourself 

How many times have they told you the story about what happened to them at the grocery store? Often people with dementia will repeat stories, sometimes word for word, without remembering they've already told you. They may ask you the same questions over and over again, too.

Share in Their Life 

Spend quality time with your parents and don't dwell on their mortality. Make memories together that will last and fuel you during the more difficult times.

Educate Yourself 

Medical treatment, surgery and rehabilitation options are changing and you need to be the moderator of you and your parent's healthcare. Be informed about any health concerns, join support groups and meet with professionals.  

Plan Ahead for Homecare 

Speak to a professional Care Coordinator at Premier Homecare Services to learn how your parent's independence can be supported with respect and dignity through the compassionate care of our caregivers.

By: Cindy Stead, Private Home Care Expert at AgeComfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Raul Lieberwirth

Monday, March 17, 2014

Why a Good Night’s Sleep Should be A Priority

In today's hectic and competitive world, many people have relegated little priority to getting a good night's sleep -believing that using every waking moment to work or learn is far more productive and important. The problem with that philosophy is that you are not giving your body enough time to rest, reset and heal because, shorter hours of sleep mean, a lesser quality of sleep.


It is important not only to fall asleep easily, but to maintain sleep long enough (7-8 hours) so that you can reach that all important part of sleep known as REM. So make sure that you set aside this amount of time for sleeping every night. During the night, we cycle through 5 stages of sleep -with each cycle lasting about 90 minutes. We need to sleep long enough to go through these cycles 4-6 times a night because, with each cycle the REM portion gets longer and, it is during that portion of sleep, that we have our deepest and most restful sleep and when our body is able to repair and heal itself, which is so important to maintaining a strong immune system.

REM sleep is also associated with dreaming because it is marked by intense brain activity. That's how you can tell if you achieve REM sleep and have therefore slept sufficient hours. During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep breathing is more rapid, irregular and shallow, eyes move in different directions and muscles become temporarily paralyzed.

It is believed that during this final stage, the regions of the brain used for thinking, learning, memory consolidation and organizing information are stimulated (like when a computer is re-booted). If you cannot sleep without constantly waking, then you are not getting good sleep and you feel it in the morning and all during your day. It's more important to sleep than to stay up late studying or preparing for a business meeting. Everything should be given its proper time so that you can function at your peak but also maintain a balance in your life.  

By: Tova Greenberg, Sleep Expert at AgeComfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Monday, March 10, 2014

Putting Lipstick on Grandma at 97

My grandma recently turned 97...in the hospital. She fell and broke her hip, the good one. She will not be going home again.

When I was preparing to visit grandma, I thought to myself what can I do for her that will make her feel wonderful? What does she love in her personal care? Food? Leisure? What are her favourite things in the world?!

Instantly I thought about how important her hair and nails have always been to her so I went to the store and bought a nail file, buffer, nail polish remover and grandma's favourite shade of pink. I also bought hand cream to give her a gentle hand massage. I knew that the family had organized someone to do her hair regularly so I would simply fluff it! I also bought some prewashed mixed berries. Another favourite of grandma's.

As I walked into her hospital room yesterday, she was sitting in a chair wrapped in a blanket. Grandma looked so small and fragile, it was everything I could do to hold back my tears, to smile and pour energy into her room. To make her look and feel beautiful like the grandma I had always known.

Grandma woke as I was setting the bags down, she smiled and said, "Is that you, Kim?", and I hugged her and said, "Yes."

I pulled out the hand cream and pink nail polish and gave her a manicure. She was so excited. Her skin was so thin and cold. I fluffed her hair and then I said, "Grandma, would you like lipstick?".
She says, "Do you think I need it?"
I said, "Absolutely! Shouldn't we always look as good as we can?"
Grandma smiled and said, "Yes, we should."

See, grandma always wore lipstick, so why not now? The only reason  she is not wearing it is because it is hard for her to do it herself. So I searched her drawers...I found several boxes of "Pot of Gold" -the typical hospital present. And then I see her lipstick. I put it on her and then I mix hand cream and lipstick on my hand to make like a cream blush and dab her cheeks Grandma looks like grandma again. She is so beautiful and now she's glowing. My sadness has lifted.       


Just before I leave, grandma says, "I'll have to put my hands on top of the blanket so everyone can see my beautiful nails."

In my 44 years of knowing my grandmother, I have never felt so close to her. I have never touched her like I touched her, cared for her like I cared for her. This gift to my grandmother was a much greater gift to me. I will learn from this experience, share it and cherish this memory forever.

By: Kimbery Irwin, Beauty and Hair Expert at AgeComfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Haircuts on Wheels

Monday, March 3, 2014

Music Care For Well Being

Music enhances everything. It has a capacity to reach into every domain and improve our quality of life through stimulation, social integration, communication, expression and daily routine.

Music can be used to evoke wide ranges of either calming or stimulating physical responses. Research has shown that music can affect blood pressure, heart rate, respiration, pupil dilation, discomfort and tolerance to pain. Music can affect our mood, our stress levels, match our emotional responses.


Music may identify and help manage our feelings. Music can unlock and help bring feelings to the surface. Music may be able to wash up to shore deeply buried, hidden, repressed or painful feelings and with support, these feelings may be processed.

Music is commonly used as a mood enhancer. In their research, Levitin and Menon found that listening to music caused a cascade of brain regions to become activated. The limbic system involved in arousal, pleasure and the transmission of opioids (natural pain killing substance, i.e. endorphins) and the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter needed for healthy function of the central nervous system, was one of the areas activated [1] .
Researchers believe that positive mood and affect are increased with dopamine.

Music can appease stress and anxiety. When the brain attends music and the auditory input is "safe", dopamine and other sedating chemicals that calm and minimize systemic excitability are discharged. Sound vibrations that permeate in the music environment blanket a person and provide a soothing message that the whole brain accepts as calming. The brain attends the music and momentarily forgets its fear and anxiety.

Music has a tremendous capacity to connect people, through shared events, feelings or ideas. It may be a key in motivating participation and developing camaraderie. Music enhances appropriate social interactions and catalyzes recreation and enjoyment where there may otherwise be isolation and loneliness. Music may facilitate intimacy. Music can be a lifelong form of recreation and leisure and enhance fitness training.

 Furthermore, music can bring balance into charged situations. It may serve to neutralize differences and celebrate commonalities. Music may catalyze and develop tolerance between diverse cultures. Listening with open ears and open hearts may expand the borders of respect and working together.

Here are some ways you can stay musically active and enhance your well-being:

  1. Join a choir
  2. Take a dance class
  3. Make a playlist of 10 songs that stimulate you. Play these when you need to be active. 
  4. Make a playlist of 10 songs that calm you. Play these in stressful situations i.e. driving in rush hour traffic.
  5. Go to a live concert.
  6. Find gentle soothing music and take a music bath before bedtime. 
  7. Listen to a new piece of music. 
  8. Learn to appreciate a new style of music. 
  9. Pick up an instrument. This may include taking lessons or rejuvenating old skills.
  10. Join a drumming circle.
  11. Choose a life song, a song that expresses who you are, the values you believe in, that would in fact be a musical epitaph. 
  12. Join a songwriting circle. 
-------------------------

[1] Levitin, D., (2006). This is Your Brain on Music. New York: Dutton p.187

By: Bev Foster, Music Care Expert at AgeComfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Alejandro Matos

Monday, February 3, 2014

Why a Family Trust?

It could be your best approach to long-term wealth-management planning.

Why a Family Trust

Too many, a trust is still very much an enigma. While most people have an idea of what is trust is, they have trouble explaining its benefits beyond asset protection and tax minimization. Trusts deserve further illumination because they can be a valuable wealth management mechanism for high net worth families and particularly useful for tax and estate planning. The key to their effectiveness is understanding how they work. Unlike most other financial planning tools, trusts provide the benefit of long-term flexibility and control.

What is a Trust?

A trust is a relationship that arises whenever a person, called the settler, transfers ownership of assets to another person, the trustee, who controls and manages those assets on behalf of, and for the benefit of, specified beneficiaries. A trust effectively separates legal ownership and beneficial ownership. The trust indenture details this relationship and lays out the trust’s mandate and the trustee’s responsibilities and obligations.

Inter-vivos versus testamentary trust

Trusts are classified as either inter-vivos or testamentary.
An inter-vivo trust is created during the life of the settler, while a testamentary trust arises as a consequence of the settlor’s death, as per the terms of his or her will. Either trust can be created as discretionary or non-discretionary. The difference between the two is whether the settler has granted the trustee “discretion” when allocating income and/or capital gains to the beneficiaries or requires the trustee to follow a preordained determination. Discretionary trusts can go as far as providing trustees the authority to decide which beneficiaries will receive benefits, and when, and how much the beneficiaries will receive.
The key point to understand between these two types of trusts is how differently they are treated for tax purposes:
  • Under an inter-vivos trust, all income and capital gains retained in the trust are taxed at the top marginal tax rate, which was almost 48 percent in 2012.
  • Testamentary trusts are taxed at progressive marginal tax rates, the same as individuals.
Consequently, participants of an inter-vivos trust are motivated to distribute all income and capital gains to the beneficiaries to avoid paying the highest marginal tax rate

Tax Planning

To demonstrate how dynamic and flexible trusts can be in tax and estate planning, I have highlighted their more strategic uses. For this purpose we will be looking at discretionary family trusts.
Income splitting is one of the more popular uses of family trusts. This is mainly due to Canada’s graduated tax system. Income-producing assets are transferred to the family trust, whereby income and capital gain are distributed to lower-income beneficiaries. By shifting income to lower-income family members, the family’s overall tax burden is reduced.

When you consider a situation in which a beneficiary has no income, the tax savings can be significant. This is in part due to the personal tax exemption, which allows each person in Canada to earn almost $10,000 a year tax-free. This means that a person can earn – tax free – up to $19,000 of capital gains or as much as $48,000 in dividends, depending on the nature of the dividends.

A family trust also affords business owners the opportunity to multiply the small business capital gains exemption upon sale of shares held within it. This exemption is available to shares that are considered qualified small business corporation shares, which applies to most operating and privately held incorporated companies. Each Canadian resident has a lifetime capital gains exemption of $750,000. Consequently, the trust has available to it as many capital gain exemptions as there are beneficiaries. However, you may want to ask the beneficiaries’ permission first, because once a person’s capital gains exemption is fully used, it is gone.

When income splitting, be aware of Canada Revenue Agency’s attribution rules, which are designed to prevent income splitting in situations where assets are gifted to non-arm’s length individuals such as a spouse or minor children or, in this case, a family trust, resulting in less overall tax being paid. The result is that the income or capital gains in question gets “attributed” back and taxed in the hands of the original transferor. This can be remedied, however, by constructing the asset transfer as a bona fide sale or loan at prescribed rates. Incidentally , at current prescribed loan rates of one percent, it is almost like gifting it anyway.

Estate Planning
  • Preserving assets for children.
When minors, or children who are not mature enough to handle the responsibility, inherit large sums of money, the results can be dreadful. A testamentary family trust can remedy the situation by placing the responsibility of managing those assets in the hands of trustees. The trust indenture can then be designed to distribute the capital to the beneficiaries at a certain age or particular life event. Equally, the trust can help prevent a child’s future spouse from benefiting from the family’s wealth in case of divorce. A family trust can also serve to protect your estate from being included in the “new matrimonial property” should you or your surviving spouse decide to remarry.
  • Creditor proofing. In most circumstances, a family trust can protect your assets from creditors or claims arising from lawsuits, taxes, accidents and other similar financial risks. Because trusts separate legal and beneficial ownership, and because trustees control distributions of capital and income from the trust, beneficiaries are protected against possible creditor appropriations.
  • Charitable giving. Trusts can make charitable giving a less definite and a more tax-efficient experience. With a charitable remainder trust you would continue to enjoy any and all income distributions from the trust while you are alive; upon your death the capital in the trust would then be transferred to the designated charity. Upon setting up and transferring assets to the trust, you will be issued a tax receipt based on actuarial estimates of the charity’s residual interest, which is effectively the discounted present value of the charitable donation’s fair market value. This can still result in a significant ax receipt. Take for example an individual donating his or her investment portfolio worth $500,000 at age 65 and that actuarial tables determine life expectancy to be 15 years and the discount rate to be five percent. The tax receipt would be more than $240,000 {$500,000/(1.05)^15] and at top marginal tax rates that would translate into more than $115,000 ($240,508 x 47.97%) of tax saving today. The only stipulation is that the original capital cannot be encroached upon before it is received by the charity. The advantage of a charitable remainder trust is being able realize the tax relief from charitable giving at a time you deem to be most beneficial, instead of your estate at the end of your life.
  • Probate and confidentiality. Unlike a will, assets in a trust do not pass through probate upon death. The assets within the trust are either distributed or continue to be maintained within the family trust as per the trust indenture. In this way your estate avoids the additional costs and delay of probate. In addition, a will is a public document open to scrutiny, while a trust is a private “relationship” and privy only to its participants. Since the trust exists separately from your estate, the assets within the trust are immune to any challenges to the will.
The benefits of using family trusts in tax and estate planning cannot be denied. When looking to transfer family assets to the next generation, trusts can provide not only a tax-effective means, but flexibility in managing and distributing those assets. Done properly, a family trust is possibly the best vehicle to effect long-term wealth management planning for high net worth families.

By: Luigi Porretta, Senior Tax & Accounting Expert at AgeComfort.org Health Care Resource Centre

Photo Credit: Tax Credits http://www.flickr.com/photos/76657755@N04/