Clinical and ethical aspects of financial capacity in dementia: a commentary

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Bioethics

Background:

• Financial capacity in dementia patients, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), is under-addressed in clinical and ethical literature.
• Managing financial capacity presents frequent ethical and clinical challenges for healthcare providers.
• Key issues include assessing independent financial management, need for assessment referral, and identifying financial exploitation or abuse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of financial capacity and related clinical/ethical concerns in dementia.
• To define potential roles for clinicians in managing financial capacity issues.
• To highlight the importance of financial capacity for patient and family well-being.

Main Methods:

• This commentary reviews existing literature and clinical observations on financial capacity in dementia.
• It outlines practical considerations and clinician responsibilities.
• It identifies available educational resources for professionals.

Main Results:

• Accurate identification and management of financial capacity issues significantly impact patient and family financial and psychological health.
• Clinicians face challenges in assessing capacity and protecting patients from exploitation.
• There is a need for greater focus on this neglected area.

Conclusions:

• Financial capacity is a critical, yet often overlooked, aspect of dementia care.
• Clinicians require guidance and resources to effectively address financial capacity issues.
• Elevating attention to financial capacity is essential for patients, families, and legal/healthcare professionals.