Dementia and voting…

[Anonymous]

My dad has dementia. He can’t tell you the date and sometimes forgets my name (mixes up a lot of words) but he knows who he will vote for. He voted by mail-in ballot in the last presidential election but his dementia wasn’t as bad. He could probably still fill out a ballot and, at least for the major candidates, his vote would be consistent with who he has always been - but there’s no way he could answer any questions or evaluate finer issues. At what point in dementia do you not send for a mail-in ballot for the person?

[Anonymous]

If he doesn’t know the date or year even, just don’t bring it up. He won’t know what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Like John Mulaney said, “don’t order for the table, if you’re about to leave the restaurant.”

[Anonymous]

On our democracy most voters have "no way he could answer any questions or evaluate finer issues."

He has a right to vote his interests, you have whatever moral obligation you assign to yourself to help him claim his rights.

Don't claim to be caring for him if you are going to hide his rights from him.

[Anonymous]

My mother was not 100% lucid but was very proud to have cast a vote for Barack Obama when she was 89 and had to be wheeled into the voting booth. I will say that a few months later she thought she had voted for Tiger Woods.

[Anonymous]

He isn’t worse off than so many voters in this country. Let it go.

[Anonymous]

LOL is this a joke? most voters do not vote based on evaluating “finer issues”

I think you stop getting them a ballot when they no longer understand or care what voting is and are not interested/not able to fill out a ballot

[Anonymous]

Don’t mention it. He needs to handle it himself. If he can’t, then that’s your answer.

[Anonymous]

My FIL votes for my MIL with dementia. I supposed she is capable of signing her name when asked but she wouldn't know what she's signing. He requests her ballot, fills it out and sends it back in. She hasn't been declared legally incompetent so that's just the way it is I guess.

It does seem ridiculous that there are intelligent informed and motivated 17 year olds who can't vote but 88 year olds who don't know what year it is and can't reliably feed themselves can.

[Anonymous]

There is no competency test for voting.
Are you saying you want there to be one? This is more of a political topic than an aging/eldercare topic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad has dementia. He can’t tell you the date and sometimes forgets my name (mixes up a lot of words) but he knows who he will vote for. He voted by mail-in ballot in the last presidential election but his dementia wasn’t as bad. He could probably still fill out a ballot and, at least for the major candidates, his vote would be consistent with who he has always been - but there’s no way he could answer any questions or evaluate finer issues. At what point in dementia do you not send for a mail-in ballot for the person?

If he asks or wants to get a mail in ballot, you should assist him. If he doesn't even mention it, I wouldn't either.

People with cognitive impairments (and other disabilities, also) have the right to vote if they choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad has dementia. He can’t tell you the date and sometimes forgets my name (mixes up a lot of words) but he knows who he will vote for. He voted by mail-in ballot in the last presidential election but his dementia wasn’t as bad. He could probably still fill out a ballot and, at least for the major candidates, his vote would be consistent with who he has always been - but there’s no way he could answer any questions or evaluate finer issues. At what point in dementia do you not send for a mail-in ballot for the person?

If you are only talking about the next Presidential election, you don’t have to make a decision yet- another year and you may make a different decision. If you are talking about the fall elections and he knows about them and who he wants, then I would say he is still able to vote.