Foreword

The Joint Conference on Legal/Ethical Issues in the Progression of Dementia grew out of the pressing need to address the very real legal and ethical dilemmas that arise in situations like the one of Marie McDonough Larson and her family. Five groups joined forces to sponsor the Conference: the Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging; the Alzheimer's Association; the American Bar Association's Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly; the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; and the University of Georgia School of Law. Held at the Center for Continuing Education at the University of Georgia, the Conference spanned three days-November 29 to December 2, 2000, and produced a set of cutting-edge recommendations and articles that are contained in this volume and were generated by the collective hard work, lively deliberation, and intense analysis of 75 multidisciplinary experts invited to be a part of this unique event.