Decline in Decision-Making Capacity

Although many elderly people will retain good cognitive functioning throughout their lives, other elders will not. A decrease in information processing capacity, whether related to organic brain diseases or other transient causes such as fluctuating hypoxia, may reduce decision-making capacity. Later in the course is an exploration of the nurse's role in evaluating decision-making and enhancing the likelihood that good decisions are made on behalf of a patient whose capacity is impaired. Also discussed are strategies that enhance the probability that any substituted decision-making is congruent with the patient's own preferences.