Pension options and adult protection

If you want to make the right decisions for a related person or support them in making decisions, you need to know them well. Time and again, people with dementia are faced with the question of which activities they can still do themselves and which matters they can or want to manage independently.

Note: According to adult protection law, the aim is to maintain each person's independence for as long as possible. The law is also the basis for all precautionary measures that should be taken. In the case of dementia-related changes, action should ultimately be taken in accordance with the wishes and needs of the person affected.

Decisions can only be made in the interests of the person with dementia if close relatives and other trusted persons or caregivers are aware of the personality, wishes, needs and lifestyle of the person with dementia. There are also many ways to record how the person with dementia would like to live in the future: In life books and biography notebooks, those affected can write down their wishes and needs together with their relatives at an early stage. These records can be used if the person's dementia is already at an advanced stage. However, it is always necessary to make decisions together and to question decisions once they have been recorded and to involve the person concerned on an ongoing basis.

If dementia is diagnosed, it makes sense to have a power of attorney for healthcare drawn up. If this has not been done before the dementia progresses, there is still the option of adult representation.

You can find more detailed information on all types of representation on the basis of adult protection law here:

Adult protection

Last updated: June 26, 2025