Unbefriended Older Adults (IMAGE)

American Geriatrics Society

Unbefriended Older Adults

Caption

The "unbefriended" lack the capacity to provide informed consent to medical treatment, often due to declines in physical and/or mental well-being. But these individuals face added challenges because they have no written outline of their care preferences and also have no identified "surrogate," such as a family member or friend, to assist in medical decision-making when needed. Baby boomers are at particular risk for becoming unbefriended, since more than 10 million boomers live alone and as many as 20 percent have no children.

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(C) 2016, American Geriatrics Society

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(C) 2016, American Geriatrics Society

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