Question

A 78-year-old woman with moderate Alzheimer’s disease is brought by her daughter, who reports the patient refusing to take her medication and wanting to go out alone at night. How should you first assess whether she can make decisions about going out alone?

Accepted Answer

Assess her understanding, retention, weighing of information and ability to communicate a decision

Answer

Assume she lacks capacity because of her dementia diagnosis

Answer

Ask her daughter to decide on her behalf

Answer

Apply a standardised cognitive test only

Answer

Detain her under the Mental Health Act

Practice question

A 78-year-old woman with moderate Alzheimer’s disease is brought by her daughter, who reports the patient refusing to take her medication and wanting to go out alone at night. How should you first assess whether she can make decisions about going out alone?