The best everyday care choices for the person diagnosed with a dementing illness, and for loved ones giving care, depend on an understanding of values and care preferences. Examples of everyday care choices include when to stop driving, how to manage money, whether to purchase or use support services, when to accept care from family members and, at a more personal level, when to bathe and what activities to do. Some families need professional help to identify and communicate their personal values about daily care. Multiple Decision Makers and Interests A diagnosis of a dementing illness brings in its wake a complex decision- making process.
Few individuals make decisions entirely on their own.
Usually family members are part of the picture and their interests are at stake, too. Under the stress of providing care, family caregivers may not see that discussing the care receiver's wishes is a priority. Effective advance planning can lessen emotional and financial strain over time. That planning relies on communication and understanding of the cognitive-ly impaired person's values and preferences for care. Some practitioners believe that persons with cognitive impairment cannot make informed decisions and lack the ability to make valid statements of wishes, values and preferences.