Surrogate decision making: special issues in geriatric psychiatry.

Surrogate decision-makers, usually family and friends, are often called on to assist seniors who are incapable of making certain decisions. The literature to date has focused primarily on decisions regarding medical treatment. Less has been written about issues faced by surrogates when making other types of decisions that often arise in the practice of geriatric psychiatry. This article outlines a case relating to personal care decision-making. The discussion focuses on areas that need to be addressed to understand and assist surrogates in making personal care decisions in the future.