Dementia Debate: What Decisions Can an Aging Parent Make After Diagnosis?

When a parent's decision-making capacity is impaired by dementia, family members often face a contentious debate over what forms of self-determination are safe and reasonable for that parent, reports Forbes . Such a diagnosis does not necessarily mean the parent is incapable of making any decisions at all. Finances will likely need to be managed by someone else, but the right to make decisions about where to live must be considered independently. Options for the parent's living situation also should be discussed jointly within families, with the parent's right to some self-determination in mind. Safety needs to be the preeminent concern, but deciding what is safe works best when all family members weigh the expressed wishes of the parent, along with the latest medical information. Grief, stress, relocation, depression, and other factors can significantly impact what a doctor observes in examining a person for dementia. Recurrent and updated evaluations are critical in deciding what is best for any aging parent diagnosed with dementia.