This book demonstrates how to address practical and ethical challenges when assessing older adults with neurocognitive disorders, like dementia. The contributors are expert clinicians who draw upon real-life experiences conducting clinical capacity assessments in civil matters, illustrating best practices based on the guidelines from the ABA/APA's Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacity: A Handbook for Psychologists. Chapters cover complex and difficult issues in careful detail, including financial exploitation, undue influence, sexual consent, and medical aid in dying. The author also provides guidance for negotiating family conflicts, working with surrogate decision-makers who also have diminished capacity, coordinating with medical and legal professionals, and addressing other situations that involve multiple stakeholders with competing priorities. A recurring theme throughout the volume is the challenge of balancing a client's right to autonomy, while also protecting them from harm. The book offers careful, effective advice for keeping clients who lack decision-making capacity involved in their healthcare choices and working to maintain their independence when daily living skills are impaired.
Contributors Acknowledgments Introduction, by Jennifer Moye Chapter 1. Understanding Legal and Clinical Capacities, by Jennifer Moye and Erica Wood Part I. Capacities in Diagnostic Contexts Chapter 2. Evaluating Capacities in Persons with Dementia, by Kyle S. Page and Kathleen C. Matthews Chapter 3. Evaluating Capacities in Persons with Serious Mental Illness, by Jessica V. Strong, Brian M. Ludwin, and Scott C. Fish Chapter 4. Evaluating Capacities After Traumatic Brain Injury, by Kristen Triebel, Sean D. Hollis, and Thomas A. Novack Part II. Capacities in the Setting of Elder Abuse and Exploitation Chapter 5. Assessment of Financial Exploitation, by Peter A. Lichtenberg Chapter 6. Assessment of Undue Influence, by Stacey Wood Chapter 7. Assessment of Independent Living Capacity in the Context of Elder Self-Neglect, by Michelle E. Mlinac and Pamela Steadman-Wood Chapter 8. Assessment of Testamentary Capacity, by Daniel C. Marson Part III. Evolving Issues in Assessing Capacities Chapter 9. Assessment of Sexual Consent Capacity, by Emma Katz, Rachael Spalding, Jarred V. Gallegos, and Barry Edelstein Chapter 10. Assessment of Capacity in Medical Aid in Dying, by Brian D. Carpenter and C. Caroline Merz Part IV. Negotiating Challenges With Families and Surrogates Chapter 11. Working With Surrogates Who May Lack Capacity or Be Unfit, by Kate L. M. Hinrichs and Ronald W. Smith Chapter 12. Addressing Family Conflicts When Assessing Capacities, by Amy E. Albright, Michelle M. Hilgeman, and Rebecca S. Allen Index About the Editor
