CAREN logo

You are here

  1. Home
  2. Advance Directives as Support of Autonomy for Persons with Dementia? A Pilot Study among Persons with Dementia and Their Informal Caregivers

Advance Directives as Support of Autonomy for Persons with Dementia? A Pilot Study among Persons with Dementia and Their Informal Caregivers

Background: Advance directives could be an important instrument to support a person's will once he/she is not able to consent anymore - if composed competently. A survey was conducted to identify the level of knowledge concerning possibilities and limits of advance directives.; Methods: The study was conducted as part of the Bavarian Dementia Survey (BayDem). Data were collected from January 2014 to December 2015 by structured face-to-face interviews. Study participants were persons with dementia and their informal caregivers (n = 74).; Results: In total, 66% reported having written an advance directive. Concerning the participants' knowledge about possibilities and limitations of advance directives, a lack of knowledge was noted about the possibility to revoke an advance directive. Furthermore, 70% of informal caregivers and 56% of persons with dementia were not aware of the possibility to include dementia-specific terms in the advance directive.; Conclusion: It is necessary to optimize structures for public information and education concerning the topic of advance directives for persons with dementia.

Access source material through DOI

Key Information

Type of Reference
Jour
Type of Work
Journal article
Publisher
Karger
ISBN/ISSN
1664-5464
Publication Year
2017
Issue Number
3
Journal Titles
Dementia And Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
Volume Number
7
Start Page
328
End Page
338