Are persons with cognitive impairment able to state consistent choices?

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Science
• Healthcare Decision-Making

Background:

• Community-dwelling individuals with cognitive impairment face challenges in expressing care preferences.
• Family caregivers play a crucial role in the care of persons with cognitive impairment.
• Understanding decision-making capacity is vital for person-centered care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the decision-making capacity of persons with cognitive impairment regarding everyday care preferences and choices.
• To establish the reliability and accuracy of responses from persons with cognitive impairment on care-related matters.
• To inform research and practice on incorporating the perspectives of individuals with cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• Dyadic interviews with 51 persons with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers.
• Persons with cognitive impairment were interviewed twice to ensure response consistency.
• Mini-Mental State Exam scores were used to categorize cognitive impairment severity (mild to moderate).

Main Results:

• Persons with mild to moderate cognitive impairment (MMSE scores 13-26) demonstrate consistent responses on preferences and choices.
• Reliable and accurate demographic data were obtained from participants with cognitive impairment.
• The study confirms the ability of individuals with cognitive impairment to participate in decisions about their daily living.

Conclusions:

• The perspectives of persons with cognitive impairment are valuable and can be reliably gathered.
• Involving individuals with cognitive impairment in research and practice can enhance their autonomy.
• Prioritizing the voices of persons with cognitive impairment has the potential to improve their quality of life.