Advance Directive for Dementia
Many of us want to protect ourselves from spending our last years lost in dementia, unable to recognize our partner or loved ones and unable to participate in life in ways that we find meaningful. The Exit Guide Program is one way to avoid that future; signing an advance directive for dementia is another.
Those choosing to end their lives through the Exit Guide Program must do so in mild (early-stage) dementia, while they still retain decisional capacity. However, many people continue to be engaged and find meaning in their lives during mild dementia and don’t choose to conclude their lives during that time. Once they reach moderate stage dementia and decisional capacity is lost, that option is no longer available.
An advance directive for dementia is a tool you can use to instruct your healthcare representative (a.k.a. healthcare power of attorney, proxy, or surrogate) and care providers that you wish to hasten your death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) in severe (late-stage) dementia. If you want this protection, it is critical to put it in place before it is too late. The progression of dementia is unpredictable, and once you reach moderate-stage dementia, you are no longer considered competent to either sign an advance directive or to take advantage of the guide services offered by Final Exit Network.
A dementia directive should be in addition to your general advance directive.
A number of organizations, including Final Exit Network, have written dementia directives. We are all about choice, but realize that poring over a dozen medical-legal documents isn’t everybody’s idea of a good time, so we have done that legwork for you and chosen our favorites.
We focused on dementia directives designed to hasten death in severe dementia. If that is not your priority and you want to think about other options, such as participating in dementia research, you might consider the Dartmouth Dementia Directive.
Our Quick-and-Easy Favorite
It’s Simple, Clear, and Does the Job
Compassion & Choices: Dementia Provision (Advance Directive Addendum)
Our Cover-Your-Bases Favorite
It’s More Complicated, but Addresses More Potential Issues
Northwest Justice Project: VSED Directive
If you are having trouble getting medical providers or caregivers to honor the instructions in a dementia directive signed by the person for whom you are the appointed healthcare representative, please contact Final Exit Network. Our volunteers can offer guidance and where a dementia directive’s language is clear, the request is unequivocal, and a facility will not honor it, Final Exit Network may provide legal support to try to enforce the directive.
