Dementia is perhaps the most feared diagnosis and is certainly one of the cruelest. It robs you of yourself.

Advance Directive instructions and a supportive surrogate/proxy (for our purposes, we will refer to this person simply as surrogate) for healthcare decisions are the best defense in protecting your medical treatment preferences should you become incompetent.

But as our recent FEN magazine discussed, hydration and food provided by hand are not currently considered medical treatments. They are basic comfort care such as bathing and may continue to be offered to you, despite your written instructions.

FEN has prepared a Supplemental Advance Directive for Dementia Care (SADD), which strengthens the language concerning your instruction to withhold all food and liquid. If you are interested in finding out more about the SADD and obtaining a copy you can use, click here. More information about initiatives relating to this SADD will be sent by email to all FEN members.

Note: This SADD has been developed by our Final Exit Network attorney, based on his study of applicable law, court rulings and other organizations' Advance Directives. We feel it provides the best legal basis for having your directions followed or litigating if they are not honored.

But law is always evolving. Our attorney will continue to review new laws and rulings that are relevant. You can help us by letting us know of any suggestions you have for revision, or by sharing any experiences positive or negative with use of this document, or similar ones, by anyone you know. Please send them to fenattorney@gmail.com.

Should any revisions be needed, the revised form will be posted on our website as well as our magazine, with an explanation of the changes.

We welcome and value your feedback.