Understanding Decisional Capacities of Older Adults

Capacity assessments of older adults is steeped in the fundamental tensions between two core ethical principles: autonomy (self-determination) and protection (beneficence). APS caseworkers must often consider the impact of cognitive functioning on a person’s risk for elder abuse, exploitation, and neglect. In this webinar, Dr. Sheri Gibson will address the very complex topic of decisional capacities in older adults, which involves knowledge of medical and psychological syndromes, clinical assessment, ethics, and the law. Attendees will learn a conceptual framework used by psychologists to assess a person’s ability to make decisions or perform tasks as they pertain to the legal standards, and methods for enhancing the referral process for a formal capacity evaluation. Presenter: Sheri Gibson, PhD Licensed Psychologist, Clinical Supervisor Psychology Department University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Private Practice