Dementia
People with dementia, and those who care for them, face difficult ethical dilemmas on a day-to-day basis.
This report concludes that we need to do more as a society to enable people to live well with dementia. We present an ethical framework to help address problems that arise in connection with dementia care, together with recommendations for policy makers.
read more »Education - Teaching resource: exploring ethical issues in dementia
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The Council has published a teaching resource based on its 2009 report 'Dementia: ethical issues'.
The resource includes an adapted version of an ethical framework for dementia, and an accompanying set of scenarios to help people work through dilemmas that may arise in the context of dementia care.
A worked example is provided to help you get started.
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Council welcomes new Dementia Action Alliance
A year after the Council’s report Dementia: ethical issues found that more must be done to support carers and to tackle the stigma of dementia, a Dementia Action Alliance has been set up with the aim of greatly improving quality of life for people with dementia.
read more »Scottish Dementia Strategy endorses the Council’s approach to autonomy
Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy, published on 1 June 2010, draws on the Council’s ethical framework for dementia and its recommendations on promoting the autonomy of people with dementia.
One of the key components of the Council's ethical framework is the promotion of autonomy in people with dementia. Autonomy is often thought of as the freedom to make your own choices, but people rarely make decisions in isolation.
read more »Dementia - Making decisions
Download a PDF of Chapter 5 - Making decisions (838KB)
People have the legal right to make their own decisions about things such as what medical treatment to accept or where to live, as long as they are capable of doing so. This applies to people with dementia too. As dementia progresses, however, it can get harder for people to make their own decisions.
read more »Dementia - What is an ethical approach to care?
Download a PDF of Chapter 3 - What is an ethical approach to care? (849KB)
Good, ethical care recognises the value of the person with dementia. It aims to promote the well-being and autonomy of the person with dementia. At the same time, it pays attention to the interests of carers who provide so much of the day-to-day support.
read more »Dementia - Ethical framework
Download a PDF of Chapter 2 - An ethical framework (799KB)
The report sets out a 6–part ‘ethical framework’ to help those who face dilemmas in connection with the day-to-day care of someone with dementia.
read more »Dementia: ethical issues video
Professor Tony Hope, chair of the Working Party on Dementia, Council member Dr Rhona Knight, and Hugh Whittall, Director of the Council, discuss some of the Council's key recommendations on ethical issues raised by dementia care.
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