DF

[pinknikes]

DF is 75 now, and has consistently stated that, should he get dementia, he does not want to receive medical care to extend his life in any way. Today he has reiterated this. I have LPA in the event that he is incapacitated. I told him I'm not sure that it's possible to refuse any medical treatment on behalf of someone with dementia, ive looked briefly via Google and can't find much info...can anyone shed any light on whether this is a possibility? tia

I have just found how to make a living will.

My DM has said this for years. She's actually discussed DNR with her GP.

He can fill out THE RESPECT form with his HP

Gp

Good for him. You may have already found this:

compassionindying.org.uk/making-decisions-and-planning-your-care/planning-ahead/advance-decision-living-will/making-advance-decision-living-will/

www.resus.org.uk/respect/respect-patients-and-carers Not all places use the ReSPECT process and it’s less suitable for general long term planning, better for when decisions are likely to have to be made (IMHO) but it’s very good to know about.

If you have LPA for health and wellbeing you can make decisions about his medical care if he doesn’t have capacity but it would be much better for him to have made a living will as that is legally binding. It might be worth taking a bit of advice about the wording.

The LPA for health is legally binding.

Refusing treatment is exactly what someone with LPA can do on behalf of someone else, whatever their diagnosis, if the person themselves has lost mental capacity for that decision at that time.

What nobody can do is demand particular treatment and get it against the opinion of the doctor.

My parents both did DNRs and Advance Directives, and absolutely I was able as their Attorney to make decisions for mum when she had lost capacity as to what medical treatment she recieved.
If your dad is still able to decide, go through with him different scenarios and write them down. Not for anyone elses benefit but yours as I found the in between decisions pretty hard - for instance, if he is currently on any medication like statins, aspirin/warfarin, blood pressure tables will he want to stay on them indefinatly or is there a point that he'd like to only have medication that makes him more comfortable in the immediate moment. What about if he develops type 2 diabetes - ignore it, or take medication/ restrict his diet? If he has a bit of a chest infection/urine infection - leave it be or take antibiotics. If he broke a hip, have it operated on?
Then you know where you are and exactly what he means by this and would be able to advocate for him based on more information

What about whether he want to continue having flu & covid jabs? There’s an interesting medical dilemma in that - ie what would a home say if you refused the Covid jab?

Personally I’d rather die of Covid over a few weeks that dementia over a few years.