Getting a dementia diagnosis changes everything. Dementia is of course primarily a medical issue, but it also has important legal implications—especially for families. When the spouse of a person with dementia becomes their legal guardian, complex legal questions arise. Should decisions be based on relational law, which grants spouses automatic rights, or on adult protection mechanisms, which impose safeguards to protect the person with dementia?
Amber Jans (UHasselt) explores the challenges of balancing these two legal approaches, particularly in financial matters, and highlights the gaps in Belgium’s current legal system. Her research aims to bridge these gaps and create a system that considers the interests of the person with dementia, their spouse, and their relationship as a couple. With dementia affecting one in five people, this issue may be more relevant to you than you think.
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