ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how to enhance a person’s decision-making, and therefore mental capacity, by careful consideration of methods of providing relevant information and assessment techniques. It highlights the importance of tailoring any adjustments made to the person’s particular circumstances and abilities, for example, providing information in the most appropriate format to support decision-making such as verbal, written or pictorial forms. An important starting point for any assessment is providing the right information. It is essential that a person is provided with all the relevant information necessary for him to make the decision before the assessment. Assessing whether a person is making a decision free from third-party influence is an essential part of a capacity assessment. Generation of pros and cons for the different options of a decision can be very difficult for a person with cognitive problems.
