IN-PERSON Dementia Directives: Planning Ahead for a Dementia Diagnosis

Leaders: Brian Rosen, MD, MSPH, Geriatric Psychiatrist, Dartmouth Health and Lora Gerard, MPA, Honoring Care Decisions Specialist, Dartmouth Health

Advance Directives are documents that let you choose someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you are ever unable to make decisions or speak for yourself. They also let you share your wishes about the care you would want in different situations. 

Sometimes people need someone to make decisions for them because of a short-term illness or emergency. For someone living with dementia, this need may last much longer. 

Your wishes about your care may change for different phases of dementia. Writing them down in advance can help your healthcare decision maker and your family understand what is most important to you.

A Dementia Directive must be completed while you are still able to make your own decisions. But it can also serve as a helpful guide for family members and caregivers who are already supporting someone living with dementia and would like to think about some decisions ahead of time. 

In this program, we'll talk about Advance Directives and Dementia Directives, what to expect as dementia changes health over time, and how to document your wishes. We'll also answer any questions you have.