“In this GeriPal podcast, the interview is with Dr. Barak Gaster, Professor of Medicine and General Internist at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Gaster felt like there was hole in the advance directives landscape around future planning for people with dementia. People with dementia experience a fairly common set of complications and decisions around feeding, loss of independence, and loss of ability to make complex decisions. His dementia specific advance directive has specific sections for care preferences for persons who progress through stages of dementia, including descriptions of mild, moderate, or severe dementia.
So many key points he makes in this podcast, you’ll have to read below or listen to the audio to learn more!
Two interesting notes:
- The directive is free to use, does not require a notary signature, and works synergistically with the POLST, Prepare, and Video decision aids. He makes a major point about the need to “de-legalize” advance directives. Right on.
- He describes how he published on the idea in JAMA, and was disappointed with the uptake. It wasn’t until Paula Span wrote about it in the New York Times for the New Old Age (below) that downloads and uptake of the advance directive exploded. Attention academics: it’s not enough to publish your work, you have to get the message out to the people!
“One Day Your Mind May Fade. At Least You’ll Have a Plan.” – The New York Times
