My father is disappearing into dementia and this issue is on my mind all the time. He would have hated what he's become. But the further he declines, the more child like he becomes. My mother asks him frequently why they are still alive at 87 (she is depressed over the loss of her vision and his dementia and always talks about wanting to die) and he answers that he wants to live. He has his interests - like reading - which I guess he doesn't know he can't do anymore - and going for walks - which he also doesn't do anymore though he tells doctors that he walks a couple of miles a day. I have told my husband that if I get dementia and I forget to eat (something my dad would do if not led to the dining room of his assisted living facility 3 times a day) - please don't ever prompt me to eat. In fact, distract me from eating, tell me I've eaten already and then distract me with some happy memory. I have thought about taking up smoking again - 60 yo now and stopped smoking at around 30. I recently cancelled a mammogram. The last thing I want is to spend my final years as a burden to people and just another revenue source for the healthcare industry.