Using Advance Directives for Avoid Prolonged Dementia

Spring 2017 Aging Law Series at Albany Law School Panel –  “Using Advance Directives for Avoid Prolonged Dementia”will feature EOLCNY Clinical Director Judith Schwarz along with Wayne Shelton, PhD from Albany Medical Center. Advanced directives typically address treatment for individuals with a terminal illness or in a persistent vegetative state.  With the increasing  prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative dementias, the question has arisen as to whether these directives can and should address continued care of adults progressively losing cognitive and physical function. This program will explore this question and the challenges to families of individuals who appear to still have a good quality of life but their past preferences indicate that they would not want treatment during prolonged dementia. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.