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Medical treatment decision making and advance care planning for people living with dementia


Any person with decision-making capacity can engage in advance care planning. This includes people living with dementia.

If a person with dementia chooses to appoint a medical treatment decision maker or support person, or complete an advance care directive, then two witnesses will need to be satisfied that the person has decision-making capacity to do so.

Family members can support the person living with dementia to engage in advance care planning. If the person lacks decision-making capacity to complete an advance care directive, a family member may wish to complete the form ‘What I understand to be the person’s preferences and values’.

Downloadable Resources