Capacity Evaluations

Capacity is a legal term used to describe someone’s ability to adequately care for themselves and make sound decisions. One’s capacity might be diminished due to dementia or a neurodegenerative disorder. To determine if someone has diminished capacity, a neuropsychological evaluation is required. The capacity evaluation will take information from three (or more) sources of information before providing a diagnosis and/or opinion about one’s capacity. We will:

• Review previous records and psychological reports

• Provide thorough and informative neuropsychological testing

• Consult with important folks to gain collateral information

• Provide a thorough report, along with any Capacity Declarations required by the courts

Legal teams or employers requesting a Capacity Evaluation:

We provide two different kinds of Capacity Evaluations:

• Comprehensive Evaluations— These are most appropriate for clients who do not have an established diagnosis of dementia or another neurodegenerative disorder.

• Abbreviated Evaluations- These are for clients who previously have an established diagnosis, but need updated testing or Capacity Declarations filled out for the legal process.

What’s involved in a capacity evaluation?

Capacity evaluations begin with a clinical interview and then standardized psychological assessment measures are given. The information gathered in the interview and the performance on the measures are combined and written into a helpful psychological report with the psychologist’s opinion as to the capacity of the client. This report is then submitted to the requesting attorney, along with supporting documentation for the court.