Conservatorship filing reveals Brian Wilson has dementia
A new conservatorship filing confirms that Brian Wilson, the co-founding leader of The Beach Boys, has dementia. The report is a result of conservatorship inquiries following the death of Wilson’s wife, Melinda, in January.
The announcement was made via Wilson’s website: “Following the passing of Brian’s beloved wife Melinda, after careful consideration and consultation among Brian, his seven children, [housekeeper] Gloria Ramos and Brian’s doctors (and consistent with family processes put in place by Brian and Melinda), we are confirming that longtime Wilson family representatives LeeAnn Hard and Jean Sievers will serve as Brian’s co-conservators.”
Court documents from the conservatorship filing, obtained via the US site the Blast, Wilson “does not have the capacity to give informed consent to the administration of medications appropriate to the care and treatment of major neurocognitive disorders (including dementia).”
The documentation rules that he is “unable to properly provide for his or her personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter”. A doctor also noted that Wilson would not be able to attend a court hearing since he “often makes spontaneous irrelevant or incoherent utterances, has very short attention span and, while unintentionally disruptive, is frequently unable to maintain decorum appropriate to the situation.”
A hearing will be conducted in Wilson’s absence on April 26th to determine details for the conservatorship. In a new statement, Wilson’s caring family described the proposed conservatorship as a supportive necessity, allowing him to “enjoy all of his family and friends and continue to work on current projects as well as participate in any activities he chooses.”
Wilson’s wife, Melinda, died on January 30th, aged 77. The couple married in 1995, and following years of psychological turmoil, she proved to be a markedly supportive partner for the musician.
“Melinda was more than my wife,” Wilson wrote following Melinda’s death. “She was my saviour. She gave me the emotional security I needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor.”
Watch Brian and Melinda Wilson give an interview about Love and Mercy, a 2014 movie examining their powerful relationship, below.
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