Mental Health/Behavioral Health Legally competent—a person is capable of making appropriate decisions Clinically competent—individual’s ability to identify problems, recognize options, make decisions, and provide the rationale supporting the decisions

Dementia Syndrome that involves a slowly progressive cognitive decline, sometimes referred to as chronic confusion Global impairment of intellectual function that is generally chronic and progressive Alzheimer’s disease

Delirium Acute state of confusion Usually short-term and reversible within 3 weeks or less Often seen among older adults in a setting with which they are unfamiliar Can include physical manifestations of change

Depression Mood disorder that can have cognitive, affective, and physical manifestations Primary depression Secondary or situational depression Geriatric Depression Scale used for assessment Treatment generally includes drug therapy and psychotherapy

Elder Neglect and Abuse Neglect—failure to provide basic needs Physical abuse—use of physical force that results in bodily injury Financial abuse—mismanagement or misuse of property or resources Emotional abuse—intentional use of threats, humiliation, intimidation, and isolation

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