Consent to Care

All services at Lone Pine Dental Hygiene are provided only with clear, valid consent, ensuring residents and families remain fully informed and in control of care decisions.

We know navigating paperwork and care decisions can feel overwhelming — our goal is to make this process as smooth and respectful as possible, while keeping everything in line with Alberta law and regulations

At Lone Pine Dental Hygiene, patient rights and dignity are at the heart of our care. Before providing any dental hygiene services, we ensure that clear, valid consent is in place. This means that residents who are capable make their own decisions, and when needed, a legally designated decision-maker such as a Personal Directive (PD) agent or Power of Attorney (POA) helps guide care on their behalf.

Our process includes:

  • Confirming verbal or written consent before every visit

  • Communicating clearly with families and care teams about upcoming appointments

  • Respecting changes in health status and reviewing consent as needed

  • Documenting decisions carefully to protect both residents and their families

Consent is not just a legal requirement — it is an essential part of ethical, person-centred care. Families and residents can feel confident that all services are delivered only with appropriate consent, in full compliance with Alberta law and the Alberta College of Dental Hygienists.

  • If someone is unable to give informed consent due to health or cognitive reasons, we work with their legally designated decision-maker (such as a POA or guardian). This ensures their wishes are respected and that care is both appropriate and lawful.

  • A Power of Attorney (POA) allows someone to make financial or property decisions on behalf of another person, while a Personal Directive (PD) authorizes decisions about health and personal care. In many cases, both may be needed to fully support dental hygiene treatment — for example, the PD provides consent for care, and the POA ensures fees can be managed.

  • If there is no POA in place, Alberta’s Health Care Consent Act outlines a hierarchy of substitute decision-makers (such as spouse, adult children, or close relatives). We follow these guidelines to make sure consent is properly obtained.

  • Yes. Consent can be updated as health needs or circumstances change. We regularly confirm consent to make sure it still reflects your wishes.

  • Consent is documented in our secure electronic records and can be updated if circumstances change. This ensures care decisions are clear and accessible to your health care team..

  • If no POA or PD is in place, we follow Alberta’s established processes for substitute decision-makers to make sure care decisions are made legally and respectfully.

“Consent is not just a form — it is a conversation that protects dignity and ensures care is always in the patient’s best interest.”

—Alberta Health Services, Oral Health Manual