For families having conversations about Medical Assistance in Dying, information is crucial. The Alzheimer Society of B.C. is comitted to helping families understand what MAiD is and how it works, to help them make informed decisions about their care.
To that end, the Society is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 4. at 2 p.m.
During the webinar MAiD provider Dr. Dirk Coetsee, will share his experiences to help families understand the personal and complex issue, as well as information about the current law and practices for MAiD in B.C. as it relates to dementia as part of a webinar series on end-of-life options.
“We want to ensure that people living with dementia, their family members and caregivers understand what MAiD is and how it works, so they can make informed decisions about their personal and health care, including at the end of life,” says Avery Milne, provincial coordinator, policy analysis, at the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “We recognize that people living with dementia are individuals and they have the same rights as everyone else, including the right to participate in decisions about their life and care.”
Based on the recently released Landmark Study, more than 85,000 people in B.C. are currently living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
“Because symptoms of the disease worsen over time, people in the early stages often express concerns about their future. They know their ability to make health-care decisions may diminish as they progress to the later stages,” said a press release issued by the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “Maintaining quality of life, preparing for advanced care and end-of-life care all may can become everyday topics for many families – and the Alzheimer Society of B.C. is here to help families have those conversations.”
The webinar will include such topics are the history of MAiD legislation, MAiD practices and processes, and common questions related to waiver of final consent and advance requests and how these impact the people living with dementia.
Those wishing to register can do so here
In October, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. continues to host education sessions on dementia and end-of-life care topics. For more information or to register, visit alzbc.org/end-of-life.