Caring for the Unrepresented: A Podcast with Joe Dixon, Timothy Farrell, Yael Zweig

Many older adults lose decision-making capacity during serious illnesses, and a significant percentage lack family or friends to assist with decisions. These individuals may become “unrepresented,” meaning they lack the capacity to make a specific medical decision, do not have an advance directive for that decision, and do not have a surrogate to help.

In today’s podcast, we talk with Joe Dixon, Timothy Farrell, and Yael Zweig, authors of the AGS position statement on making medical treatment decisions for unrepresented older adults. We define “unrepresented” and address the following questions:

• What is the scope of the unrepresented problem?

• Why not use the older term “unbefriended”?

• How should we care for unrepresented individuals in inpatient and outpatient settings?

• What can we do to prevent someone from becoming unrepresented?

Find answers to these questions and more in this week’s podcast. Listen in, and if you’re interested, explore the topic further with the following resources:

• AGS Position statement on making medical treatment decisions for unrepresented older adults

• VA Policy on Advance Care Planning and on Informed Consent