Most Living Wills Don’t Help You Plan for Dementia Care, This One Does Posted On 12 Apr 2018 By : Casey Kelly-Barton
We all know we’re supposed to have a living will so our doctors and families will know what type of care we want (and don’t want) if we can’t decide for ourselves. For about a third of us, though, dementia will present a problem a traditional living will can’t solve. That’s because most living wills — also known as advance directives — only take effect after a catastrophic sudden change in your cognitive abilities, like a serious accident or stroke.
Dementia, however, affects decision-making in slower, more subtle ways, leaving patients competent to make simple choices but often overwhelmed by major decisions about treatment options.
A New Living Will for Dementia Care
(…) Each stage has four options for dementia care:
- To exclude the use of breathing machines and resuscitation.
- To prolong life as long as possible.
- To receive care only at home
- To receive palliative care only.
Developing a Health Directive for Dementia
(…) Gaster said age 65-70 is the ideal time to make your care choices, fill out the form and sign it.
(…) Gaster recommends the Alzheimer’s planning tools created by the Conversation Project,
Ways to Talk About Dementia Care Planning With Your Loved Ones
(…) talking about the possibility of dementia and planning for it can make the difference between a good end of life and one that’s unnecessarily painful and stressful for the whole family.
(…) thousands of people who’ve downloaded the dementia directive online.
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