New Toolkit Guides Healthcare Professionals to Assess Dementia in a New Way

University of Alberta (U of A)-led research is transforming healthcare professionals' assessment of seniors' decision-making capacity, reports Medical Xpress . The new model led to a 60 percent decline in referrals to geriatricians and an 80 percent decline in the number of capacity interviews required when it was first tested. The U of A team crafted guiding principles to be minimally intrusive and follow seniors' explicit wishes as best as possible, to sustain their at-home safety. "We wanted to cut down on wasted time and testing for both the senior and the healthcare professionals," says U of A Professor Lesley Charles. The new model accords seniors the right to knowingly take a risk by choice, even if it is difficult for the healthcare team and loved ones to accept. "With the capacity assessment, it's not their decision that you are judging, but the quality of their decision-making and whether they understand the consequences of their decision," notes U of A Professor Jasneet Parmar. The process begins with a pre-assessment, which can help to avoid, or at least postpone, the need for a declaration of incapacity. The medical team ensures the senior's medical and psychiatric stability before performing cognitive and functional tests, and then all stakeholders brainstorm ways to keep the senior safe at home until memory care is necessary.