Fulda Legal & Medical Experts Urge Advance Care Planning as dementia Cases Rise
FULDA, GERMANY – As Germany’s aging population faces increasing rates of dementia, a local lawyer and physician are urging residents to proactively plan for their future healthcare and financial decisions. Experts warn that waiting until a crisis occurs can limit options and place undue stress on families.
The call to action comes as roughly 45 percent of Germans over 50 already have a living will, according to the Robert Koch Institute. While a positive step, doctors and legal professionals emphasize the importance of comprehensive advance planning beyond simply a will, including durable powers of attorney for both medical and financial matters. “Everyone should ask themselves the ‘what-if’ question,” says Dr. Schlee,emphasizing the need for open conversations within families and with primary care physicians.
Lawyer Schlitt highlights the key components of comprehensive advance planning: a power of attorney designating decision-makers for assets and medical care; a care order naming a representative should court-ordered guardianship become necessary due to mental illness or age-related cognitive decline; and a living will outlining desired or rejected medical treatments in emergency situations.
These decisions are legally binding for doctors, though relatives’ opinions are taken seriously. In cases of disagreement, a hospital ethics committee can be consulted. Without explicit patient direction,medical professionals will attempt to determine the patient’s presumed wishes,defaulting to life-sustaining care if no consensus can be reached.
“Especially on this topic it is worth going to the notary,” Schlitt advises, noting the availability of sample forms on the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice for those seeking guidance.
Ultimately, while death is inevitable, maintaining quality of life in old age-and preparing for potential cognitive decline-depends on factors within one’s control, including proactive legal and medical planning.
