People with dementia gradually lose the ability to make decisions for themselves and their loved ones will need to make medical decisions for them at some point.An advance directive, together with periodic conversations with your health care provider and family, can help ensure your wishes are heard and respected. An advance directive is a written document that states a person's preferences regarding medical treatment in the event he or she is no longer able to make medical decisions for him/herself.The Dartmouth Dementia Directive is designed to supplement a standard advance directive by providing guidance to your caregivers about the care you would like to receive should you develop dementia. It addresses the gradual loss of decision-making ability which typically occurs in dementia.The Dartmouth Dementia Directive gives you the opportunity to document the level of treatment you would want at each stage of the disease – mild, moderate, or severe. For each stage of dementia, the directive addresses three main areas of care: (1) Medical Care; (2) Nutrition and Fluids; and (3) Location of Care.The Dartmouth Dementia Directive is used by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (NH), Caldwell Elder Law (NH, VT), and the Vermont Ethics Network (VT).