Supported decision-making for older people living with dementia: contributions from bioethics

The significant increase in the elderly population and the high incidence of chronic and degenerative diseases are a matter of concern with regard to issues inherent to promotion of autonomy and preservation of human rights and quality of life in this population group. Exercising the right to make a decision impacts various aspects of human life, such as health care, asset management, relationships, choice of housing, family care, religious activities and even daily routine activities. Supported decision-making (SDM) can be an important tool for promoting autonomy among elderly people living with dementia, as it consists of an approach based on respect for human rights, in which the aim is to establish control over the mechanisms for provision of support so that all people can exercise the right to make decisions inherent to their lives. In order to implement this more robustly in Brazil, it is fundamental to change the culture towards valuing elderly people and implementing the notion that protection involves offering mechanisms for promoting personal autonomy, which is partly achieved through encouragement of social engagement and strengthening community ties. In this regard, the notion of empowerment, based on concepts arising from Intervention Bioethics, is relevant.