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Competence and the elderly patient with cognitive impairments
1Department of Psychiatry, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Assessing competence in elderly individuals, especially those with cognitive impairments, requires a nuanced approach. This study refines competence standards to better support self-determination in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Bioethics
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Assessing competence in the elderly is crucial for ethical decision-making.
- Cognitive impairments present unique challenges in competence evaluations.
- Existing competence frameworks may not adequately address the needs of older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the assessment of competence in elderly individuals.
- To focus on individuals with cognitive impairments.
- To propose modifications to the existing concept of competence.
Main Methods:
- Ethical discussion based on an analysis of autonomy.
- Critical analysis of four existing standards of competence.
- Exploration of factors influencing competence (situation, task, risk).
Main Results:
- Identified factors influencing competence assessments in the elderly.
- Critically evaluated four distinct standards of competence.
- Proposed three new classes of competence criteria.
Conclusions:
- Modified competence concepts can better support elderly patients.
- New criteria extend competence assessment to individuals with cognitive deficits.
- Promoting self-determination in elderly patients is a key outcome.