Dementia Mental Capacity
Our experienced psychiatrists and other assessors can assess dementia mental capacity. In some instances this assessment can be conducted remotely. Please contact us for a quote.
Individuals suffering from dementia often cannot make their financial decisions. They are said to lack mental capacity when this happens.
The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) governs critical decisions about the property, financial matters, and the healthcare and social care of a person. This also refers to daily decisions like personal care, what to wear, and what to eat. An assessment helps people suffering from dementia their caretakers and experts make decisions now and in the future when required.
If you have a client suffering from dementia and seeking a mental capacity assessment, then please get in touch with one of our professionals at Mental Capacity Assess.
What is Dementia?
The term ‘dementia’ identifies a series of symptoms which may include memory loss and thought processing, problem-solving, or communication difficulties. Such changes are often minor, to begin with, but grow serious enough to affect everyday life for those with dementia. A person with dementia can also experience mood or behavioral changes.
Dementia is caused by diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or several strokes that affect the brain. The particular signs of anyone suffering dementia may rely on the damaged parts of the brain and the dementia-causing disease.
Why is a Dementia Mental Capacity assessment important?
The right to make one’s own choices is fundamental to human autonomy. Mental Capacity is a functional assessment performed to assess if a dementia patient may make a specific decision.
A dementia Mental Capacity assessment is used to assess if the patient can give informed consent, engage in research, control their finances, live independently, or make a Will/Power of Attorney. One cannot assume that patients with dementia have lost capacity. Some dementia patients can make decisions.
Striking a balance between respecting the patient’s autonomy and acting in his/her best interests is important.
How can the Mental Capacity Act Law help?
It can be hard to determine whether it’s appropriate for someone with dementia to make a choice. The Mental Capacity Act of 2005 outlines how to assess if someone with dementia may make their own decisions. The Code of Practice outlines how to determine whether someone can make their own decisions. It also explains how to support the individual, and how to make decisions for them if they are not able to.
Following the Steps provided by the MCA helps to give control over the decisions of the patient in the best interest. One choice is to use a legal document called Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to appoint someone (or more than one person) they trust to be an attorney. When registered, the attorney(s) shall have the right to make decisions in the best interests on behalf of the individual if they can no longer make one.
Individuals with dementia can also select the type of health care they choose to deny in the future by making a preliminary decision in advance.
Get in touch with Mental Capacity Assess
If you have a client is suffering from dementia seeking a mental capacity assessment in accordance with the law, please get in touch with Mental Capacity Assess.
References
Lasting Power of Attorney | Alzheimer’s Society
Care Planning, Liberty and Autonomy
Decision Making and Mental Capacity