Krista James is National Director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, http://www.bcli.org/ccel, and staff lawyer with the British Columbia Law Institute. She describes the Centre’s work. She explains the benefits and risks of autonomy for the elderly. She discusses uniform standards for fire protection of the elderly living in retirement homes and long-term care facilities. She describes guidance she would like to see widely adopted for protecting seniors against elder abuse while respecting their autonomy; for personal service workers and professional staff when an elderly person insists on making a decision which could be risky; and for assessing the decision-making capacity of elderly people. She says what she would like to do and see done to enhance respect for the autonomy of elderly people while ensuring protection for them and others who may be put at risk by their decisions. She shares her message for family caregivers concerned about elderly family members’ decision-making.