Making Decisions Independently—Even with Dementia
Decision-making capacity is more than just a matter of diagnosis
Prof. Julia Haberstroh discusses self-determination and decision-making support for people with dementia on the hr2 podcast.
People with dementia do not automatically lose their right to self-determination. However, the ability to make a specific decision independently may depend on the situation and circumstances. This is precisely where Prof. Julia Haberstroh’s research comes in.
On Hessischer Rundfunk’s podcast “Der Tag,” the professor of psychological aging research at the University of Siegen discusses how people with Alzheimer’s dementia can be supported in making their own decisions. This also involves the concept of decision-making support: It is not solely a person’s individual characteristics that determine whether they can make a decision autonomously. The environment in which the decision is made can also help facilitate self-determination.
Other people who provide support during decision-making can play an important role. But the physical and material environment can also make a difference. For people with dementia, for example, low-stimulus environments can be helpful, as they can make it easier to focus attention on the decision at hand.
The discussion also addresses the limits of self-determination—such as when decisions pose a risk to others. Prof. Haberstroh explains why a decision that seems unreasonable from our perspective does not automatically mean that a person is no longer capable of making decisions.
The full conversation is part of the hr2 program “Der Tag: What Remains When Memory Fades? Living with Dementia,” which aired on September 22, 2026. The interview with Prof. Julia Haberstroh begins at the 30:44 mark.
Listen to the podcast “What Remains When Memory Fades? Living with Dementia”
