ABA/APA Assessment of Capacity in Older Adults

Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacity: A Handbook for Psychologists (PDF, 1.3MB)
This publication is designed to give psychologists and other health care providers important information to help guide their work with older adults.

Assessing Capacities of Older Adults: A Casebook to Guide Difficult Decisions (2020)
This case book demonstrates how to address practical and ethical challenges when evaluating capacities of older adults with neurocognitive disorders. Illustrating best practices from the ABA/APA’s Handbook for Psychologists. Complex issues such as financial exploitation, undue influences, sexual consent, and medical aid in dying, negotiating family conflicts, and collaborating with medical and legal professionals are addressed. 

Assessment of Older Adults with Diminished Capacities: A Handbook for Lawyers, 2nd edition, (PDF, 434KB)
The second edition of the handbook offers lawyers a clear framework and system for identifying and addressing problems of client capacity. It includes a new chapter on standards of capacity for a wide variety of common transactions, a chapter on assessment of undue influence, and the incorporation of supported decision-making principles and practices throughout.

Hard copies of the handbook are available for purchase from the ABA Store. For more information, email the ABA.

Judicial Determination of Capacity of Older Adults: A Handbook for Judges (PDF, 889KB)
This handbook overviews capacity determination, examines the role of judges, provides judges with a summary of the kinds of functioning assessed and suggests a 5-step model for assessment.

For Psychologists: Online Request Form for Psychologist handbook (PDF, 72KB)