The article about dementia is really eye-opening because it shows how complex and confusing it can be when trying to understand a person’s ability to make decisions as they age, especially with dementia. A lot of people think that once someone is diagnosed with dementia, they can no longer make decisions for themselves. However, the article explains that this isn’t true. In fact, a person with dementia can still make decisions, but it depends on the situation and how advanced their condition is. The bridge between both describing the procedure of loosing memories with dementia and intertwining with the chronology of the story beautidfully shows not only the overall applications of Dementia but the personal impact of the disorder.

One important point the article makes is that doctors can disagree on whether a person with dementia is still able to make decisions. This is because there is no one set way to test someone’s decision-making ability. It’s not as simple as saying “yes” or “no” to whether someone is able to make choices. Instead, it’s a lot more specific and can change over time. For example, a person might still be able to decide what they want to eat, but they might not be able to choose the best medical treatment for themselves. The article pin-points a hole of thought within dementia and tries to decompose the complexity of this ethical decision which is often overlooked.

The article also talks about the legal side of dementia. Even if someone with dementia can’t remember a decision, like who they want to make decisions for them, that decision can still count. This is confusing because it means a judge might have to decide whether someone is able to make decisions, even if doctors and family members disagree. The case of Diane in the article is a good example of this. Her family fought over who should be her legal guardian, which led to a lot of legal fees and stress. This also brings into the discussion the relationship between ethical and legal atmospheres. How much does a doctor know and how much does a judge know? Which is more important? How does the autonomy of the patient change?

An important theme in this week’s readings is how individuals connect to larger issues within a community, showing how personal experiences reflect bigger problems in the system. In the article “Fixing the Broken Lovelies”, Naomi, a nurse, shares her experience working in a psych ward. She describes feeling overwhelmed by the growing number of patients coming in, which makes her job harder and leaves her feeling exhausted. This reflects a bigger issue—the lack of resources in the unit. Naomi also notices problems like patients using medication improperly and seeing people smoking outside the ward. There’s a sign she passes on her way to work that says, “Home of the forgetful and the forgotten,” which highlights the challenge of caring for people who may be overlooked or forgotten in society. This all shows how Naomi’s personal struggles in the ward represent larger, systemic issues in healthcare and mental health care. This also ties into the ability to present a topic and indicate a larger issue of the lack of resources for these sections of the community.