{"id":533,"date":"2023-09-01T13:49:44","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T13:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/?page_id=533"},"modified":"2026-09-11T01:44:06","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T01:44:06","slug":"dementia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"533\" class=\"elementor elementor-533\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-762aab8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"762aab8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-49bec3c\" data-id=\"49bec3c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce2f00a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ce2f00a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PLANNING JUST IN CASE YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4bfde0a5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4bfde0a5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4f51c0da\" data-id=\"4f51c0da\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d2f1bf4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d2f1bf4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong data-start=\"385\" data-end=\"520\">\u201cWhen memory begins to fade, the wishes we expressed while we could still speak for ourselves can continue to guide those we love.\u201d<\/strong><br data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"523\" \/>\u2014 Final Exodus<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3b7f96a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3b7f96a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-167edea\" data-id=\"167edea\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-033252e elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"033252e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"what\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-df925ba elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"df925ba\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-47ec8ef\" data-id=\"47ec8ef\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5f15fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a5f15fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHAT DEMENTIA IS &amp; ISN\u2019T<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-377b55a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"377b55a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-48b783e\" data-id=\"48b783e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71ed530 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71ed530\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>The Problem<\/b>:\u00a0 There is no cure for dementia; sufferers die from the disease at the end. None of the ways for dealing with it are desirable (discussed below).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-75f680d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"75f680d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b1da0d7\" data-id=\"b1da0d7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fa98497 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fa98497\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>What is Dementia?<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0It is not a disease but rather a general term for a number of diseases, the main one being <span class=\"tooltip\">Alzheimer\u2019s<span class=\"tooltiptext\">Alzheimer&#8217;s is estimated to be 60-70%.<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0 \u00a0 Other dementias are listed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/deep-dive\/\">Deep Dive<\/a> page.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fecf854 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fecf854\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fa7a6c2\" data-id=\"fa7a6c2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d6cfa1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0d6cfa1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Furthermore, dementia can arise secondarily in the late stages of other diseases, namely Parkinson\u2019s,\u00a0 HIV, multiple sclerosis and alcoholism.<\/p><p>Dementia is often misunderstood.\u00a0<\/p><p>It is <b>not<\/b>:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0e7223 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"e0e7223\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>A natural part of aging.<\/li> \n<li>Always genetic; there are many causes. <\/li> \n<li>The loss of all memories; long-past memories often linger.<\/li> \n<li>Memory loss can be from the secondary effects of other diseases, such as depression, mental illness and drug abuse.  These memory losses are temporary if the underlying illness is successfully treated.   \n<\/li>  \n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c0d5d04 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c0d5d04\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-62fcbe0\" data-id=\"62fcbe0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66f91db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"66f91db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Not only are dementias irreversible, they are progressive.\u00a0 Progression can sometimes be slowed, but it cannot be stopped.\u00a0 Therefore, dementias are divided into stages, from three to seven, depending on the source.\u00a0 On this website, Alzheimer\u2019s disease will be the focus and will be considered in three stages: mild, moderate, and severe.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f7a58d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f7a58d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e036c93\" data-id=\"e036c93\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-798f2f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"798f2f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><b>MILD\/EARLY:<\/b>  Can\u2019t do complex tasks, can\u2019t express self well, gets lost, and occasionally can\u2019t remember things from a few minutes ago.<\/li> \n<li><b>MODERATE\/MIDDLE<\/b>: All symptoms progressively get worse; sufferers advance differently with different symptoms. This stage is usually the longest; it can be many years. <\/li> \n<li><b>SEVERE\/LATE<\/b>: Short term memories are virtually gone, family is not recognized, hallucinations develop, and  personality changes including irritability and hatefulness at times, even directed to family,   \n<\/li> \n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-527ba2f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"527ba2f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e848a9a\" data-id=\"e848a9a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a314b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"3a314b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"supp\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b04ef3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b04ef3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">DEMENTIA SUPPLEMENTAL DIRECTIVES AND POSSIBLE CONTENT TO CONSIDER<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-24df7cf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24df7cf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c53c034\" data-id=\"c53c034\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f10f3ae elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f10f3ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As mentioned in the planning section, there are supplements that can be added to basic advance directives. Content of such supplements is divided into two groups, passive and active.<\/p><p><b>Passive Dementia Advance Directive Provisions<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-895ec60 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"895ec60\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-11caf52\" data-id=\"11caf52\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6053f3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"f6053f3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Forego any treatment that will extend my life. <\/li> \n<li>Let any disease I have or may contract take it\u2019s course. <\/li> \n<li>If I want to eat or drink, ok, but don\u2019t encourage me to eat or drink.  <\/li> \n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-356e3cb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"356e3cb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1bf89d\" data-id=\"d1bf89d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e67e68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e67e68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Active provisions:<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0c4b369 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0c4b369\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f7fe9d1\" data-id=\"f7fe9d1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-298ee25 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"298ee25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><span style=\"list-style-type: disc !important;\">Keep up my medications, including those that reduce pain, even if they will shorten my life.<\/span><\/li> \n<li>Keep me out of places (i.e., nursing homes) that won\u2019t follow my wishes. <\/li> \n<li>If I want to eat or drink, ok, but don\u2019t encourage me to eat or drink.  <\/li> \n<ul><li span style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">Continue Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) if I\u2019ve started it on my own while competent.<\/li>\n<li <li span style=\"list-style-type: circle;\">Direct that <strong>S<\/strong>topping <strong>E<\/strong>ating and <strong>D<\/strong>rinking by  <strong>A<\/strong>dvance <strong>D<\/strong>irective (SED by AD) be instituted after you lose decisional capacity.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c132ccd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c132ccd\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b4de641\" data-id=\"b4de641\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-875ea20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"875ea20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSeveral supplement forms with these kinds of provisions are listed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/deep-dive\/\">Deep Dive\u00a0<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/resources-other-advance-directives\/\">Resources<\/a> pages.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9a6410 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"f9a6410\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"incap\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-43d94d0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"43d94d0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0321a6b\" data-id=\"0321a6b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2216d4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2216d4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">THE PROBLEM OF INCAPACITY <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-db64374 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"db64374\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f584014\" data-id=\"f584014\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1539d89 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1539d89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As discussed in the section on Advance Directives, when someone has dementia they can\u2019t speak for themselves. If there is an advance directive, then the proxy speaks for him or her. When there\u2019s a question about capacity, the attending physician or others make the determination.<\/p><p>Incapacity can be tricky, especially when dementia is the cause. \u00a0Diagnosis usually comes months or even years before incapacity sets in.\u00a0\u00a0 <span class=\"tooltip\">One can have capacity in the morning and not in the afternoon. <span class=\"tooltiptext\">This is called Sundowner Syndrome. Capacity waxes and wanes. A person can be considered not to have capacity one day, but the next might be a &#8216;good day&#8217; and the person can demonstrate capacity.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p>Since dementias are often diagnosed before capacity is lost, what are the planning choices before incapacity?<\/p><p>Realistically, there are only two:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93bf14c elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"93bf14c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li><b>Live years with the disease and its progression until death.<\/b> <\/li> \n<li><b>Choose to end your life before capacity is lost.<\/b> <\/li> \n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a947ada elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a947ada\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9a4c031\" data-id=\"9a4c031\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ace17cd elementor-widget__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ace17cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-align: justify;\">Choosing to end your life before capacity is lost could be the best choice depending on your values.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c617ad1\" data-id=\"c617ad1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbfe347 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-inherit elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cbfe347\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"128\" height=\"134\" src=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/incapacity3_128W.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5744\" alt=\"Silhouette of head with puzzle piece inside, indicating incapacity.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8336205 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8336205\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d6a263\" data-id=\"1d6a263\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a7906d elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"6a7906d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"choices\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-544256f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"544256f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">IF DYING EARLY IS DESIRED, WHAT CHOICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR ENDING ONE'S LIFE EARLY?  <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7003fad elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7003fad\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-13d034b\" data-id=\"13d034b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c28db6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c28db6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Of the methods discussed in the preceding section, <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/elementor-67\/\">Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD)<\/a>, even though enacted in your state, is likely not an option because you do not have less than six months to live. This leaves:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-43673d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"43673d7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-60084f1\" data-id=\"60084f1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e62112 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"4e62112\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n<li>Death by violent means.<\/li> \n<li>An inert gas.<\/li> \n<li>Stopping Eating and Drinking (SED) <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/voluntarily-stopping-eating-drinking-vsed\/\">Voluntarily<\/a>  before you permanently lose decisional capacity (VSED)<\/li>\n<li>  Stopping Eating and Drinking (SED by AD)<\/a> via <span class=\"tooltip\">instruction<span class=\"tooltiptext\">See the instructions in the Dementia Directive.<\/span><\/span> in your Advance Directive. <\/li> \n\n\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-413d741 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"413d741\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/voluntarily-stopping-eating-drinking-vsed\/\">VSED<\/a> is often the choice and has become fairly common and accepted.\u00a0 Whatever the method chosen, it means that <b>you are giving up some months, probably years, of a very acceptable life.\u00a0<\/b>The\u00a0 duration of life given up can be shortened in the few states that allow SED by AD.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e295dec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e295dec\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ea2f6e7\" data-id=\"ea2f6e7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae48fa6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"ae48fa6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"agent\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f67ca1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9f67ca1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WHAT CAN YOUR HEALTH CARE AGENT\/PROXY DO TO CARRY OUT YOUR WISHES IF YOU HAVE DEMENTIA? <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-addf45a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"addf45a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ec9016\" data-id=\"6ec9016\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7be89e elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7be89e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The answer depends on what your wishes are. If your advance directive or your dementia supplement contains the passive and even the active provisions listed above, there&#8217;s no problem.<\/p><p>But what about the agent and the family <b>instituting<\/b> VSED? To explore this issue turn to the Deep Dive Section <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/deep-dive#medtr\">Advance Directives That Call for SED After Incapacity<\/a>.<\/p><p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Advance-Health-Care-Directive_v16c_6-13-24_filled.pdf\">Advance Directive form<\/a> in this website, page 2, the four items a.-d. under Choice #5 raise this issue, even though dementia is not mentioned because other causes may lead to the same possible choices. The issue raised in Choice 5 is explored in the <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/advance-directive\/\">Advance Directives<\/a> section and, as noted above, in the <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/deep-dive\/\">Deep Dive<\/a> section.<\/p><p>If you have been diagnosed with dementia, FinalExodus has an <a href=\"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/early_dementia_directive.pdf\">early dementia directive specifically for people who have been diagnosed with dementia.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PLANNING JUST IN CASE YOU ARE DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA \u201cWhen memory begins to fade, the wishes we expressed while we could still speak for ourselves can continue to guide those we love.\u201d\u2014 Final Exodus WHAT DEMENTIA IS &amp; ISN\u2019T The Problem:\u00a0 There is no cure for dementia; sufferers die from the disease at the end. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-533","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=533"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7678,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/533\/revisions\/7678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}