Abstract
The number of Americans diagnosed with a form of dementia is steadily increasing, yet the research and available treatments for the disease remain concerningly stagnant. All too often, the burden of caring for elderly dementia patients falls on the patients’ adult children. As the patients’ ability to communicate diminishes, the child caretakers are forced to guess on appropriate end-of-life decisions. This Note proposes an amendment to state statutes for physician-assisted death that would give dementia patients the opportunity to make plans for a dignified death. This would alleviate both emotional and financial burdens on their child caretakers.