Many standard form advance directives will not be helpful for patients who develop dementia or similar mind-altering diseases. The standard advance directives typically address terminal conditions and comas, but not the gradual decline of a dementia patient.
A dementia-specific health directive could provide more clarity about the common decisions that will need to be addressed by the health care agent. The main focus of the dementia-focused directive is to provide information on how the patient’s care will be altered as he or she progresses through the stages of the disease. It often lists the cognitive milestones from mild to severe stages.
These directives will need to be drafted prior to developing dementia, as the person needs to be of sound mind to discuss the topics and execute the directives. If these issues are not addressed, dementia patients will not be able to indicate the type of care they prefer which can make it more difficult on the family members.
If you or a loved one has preferences for the type of care you will receive should you later be affected by a mind-altering disease, speak with our Maryland based firm about how we can help.
