Capacity Assessment

Capacity Assessment across Alberta

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), we provide professional capacity assessments in Calgary and, for some individuals, across Alberta through an in-person and online assessment program to determine whether an adult can make informed personal, medical, or financial decisions and fully understand the potential consequences of those choices. Our team at RMPS provides every individual with a safe space, making sure they receive expert assistance while preserving their autonomy and dignity.

An adult capacity assessment is more than a legal requirement; it is a professional evaluation specifically designed to protect both the rights and the well-being of the individual. At our clinic, we adhere to Alberta legal and healthcare standards, employing proven clinical methods and a compassionate approach. Our goal is to provide clarity for families, legal representatives, and healthcare providers during important decision-making moments.

Understanding the Capacity Assessment Process

Capacity assessment is a professional approach to examining whether an adult is capable of taking in the information they need, understanding their options, and making an informed decision. In general, it is assumed that individuals who have reached the age of majority (age 18 in Alberta) have the capacity to make informed and reasonable decisions for themselves. This assessment is only done for individuals who might be affected by any serious health condition, cognitive or memory problems, or other conditions that impact how they think and process information.

Capacity assessment is a step towards supporting someone for their future. For example, it might lead to activating a personal directive or appointing a guardian, co-decision-maker, or trustee. It is important to remember: just because you don’t agree with someone’s decisions doesn’t mean they’ve lost capacity. If they understand the facts and the consequences, they may still be perfectly capable of making that choice.

Knowing When to Consider a Capacity Assessment

An adult capacity assessment is performed when there is a solid reason to believe that an individual’s ability to make decisions is impaired. Some of the common situations may include:

The person has previously been identified as requiring high levels of support due to cognitive challenges (e.g., Intellectual Disorder), confusion, or impaired judgment.
Concerns about vulnerability to financial exploitation.
Significant health changes affecting mental clarity.
Requests to activate a personal directive or appoint a legal decision-maker.

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), our capacity assessment acts as a legal safeguard to ensure that adults who find it difficult to make their own decisions get proper support.

Medical Examination Requirement in Adult Capacity Assessment

Before a Capacity Assessment can move forward; the law says a doctor must first carry out a medical examination. The purpose of this step is to make sure the person’s decision-making ability isn’t being affected by something temporary or treatable. For example, issues like infections, medication side effects, dehydration, or sudden illness can sometimes cause confusion or poor judgment, but these problems can often be fixed.

By ruling out these short-term causes, the process ensures the assessment reflects the person’s true, long-term decision-making abilities. Only when the doctor confirms that no reversible medical issue is to blame can the formal capacity assessment begin.

Some Signs a Capacity Assessors Look For

When performing a capacity assessment, the capacity assessment psychologist evaluates two key areas:

Understanding of Facts: Whether the adult can understand the information relevant to the decision at hand.
Awareness of Consequences: Whether they understand what might happen if they choose one option over another.

For financial matters, this could mean understanding account balances, obligations, and possible risks. For personal decisions, it might involve medical treatments, living arrangements, or daily care needs.

Who Can Conduct an Adult Capacity Assessment

According to Alberta laws, capacity assessments can only be performed by someone who has training in evaluating decision-making abilities. This includes all physicians and psychologists, and other healthcare professionals who have met provincial training and regulatory requirements. Depending on their credentials, these may include registered nurses, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists.

Every professional who can perform a capacity assessment is well-trained to assess whether an adult can recognize relevant information and the potential consequences of their choices. At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), our registered psychologists are fully qualified to conduct capacity assessments, adhering strictly to Alberta’s legal and healthcare guidelines while ensuring the process is thorough, respectful, and supportive for every client.

Supporting Families and Child Well-Being with Parenting Capacity Assessment

A parenting capacity assessment is a structured evaluation that examines a parent’s ability to meet their child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs. In our Capacity Assessment Alberta, we conduct these assessments with professionalism, sensitivity, and a focus on the best interests of the child. Our process involves interviews, observations, and standardized tools to examine parenting and decision-making skills, moreover their home environment. Parenting capacity assessments are often requested in legal, child welfare, or custody contexts, providing clear, evidence-based insights for important decisions. By identifying strengths and areas for improvement, we aim to support families in creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.

The RMPS Capacity Assessment Process

At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services, our team takes a professional approach to every capacity assessment. Our Capacity Assessment across Alberta process typically includes:

Information-Gathering Meeting:
We meet with family members, legal representatives, or other relevant parties to gather important background details. Depending on the situation, this may or may not include the individual being assessed.
Clinical Interviews:
The individual participates in a structured clinical interview to assess comprehension, reasoning, and decision-making in a supportive setting.
Capacity Assessment Form:
We document our findings clearly and accurately using Alberta’s official capacity assessment form.

What Happens After the Assessment

Once the adult capacity assessment is complete, the results may lead to:

No further action: The individual remains fully capable of making their own decisions.
Activation of a personal directive: A previously appointed agent takes on the role of decision-maker for personal matters.
Appointment of a decision-maker: A guardian, trustee, or co-decision-maker may be appointed by the court if needed.

At RMPS, we provide guidance on next steps, collaborating with families, lawyers, and healthcare providers to ensure the individual’s rights and well-being are respected.

Frequently Asked Question

How long does a capacity assessment take?

Most adult capacity assessments at RMPS are completed within one to two sessions. Each session may last one to two hours, depending on the complexity of the case. Additional time is required for reviewing records, consulting with relevant parties, and preparing the official Alberta capacity assessment form.

Can family members request a Capacity Assessment?

Yes. Family members, legal representatives, or healthcare providers can request a capacity assessment if they have valid concerns about someone’s decision-making ability. Requests should be based on concerns about reasoning, judgment, or memory, not simply disagreements with personal choices.

Does the adult need to agree to the assessment?

In most cases, consent from the adult is required. However, in certain legal or medical situations, such as when there are serious safety concerns, an assessment may proceed without direct consent if authorized under Alberta law.

Is a capacity assessment the same as a competency hearing?

No. A capacity assessment is a clinical process performed by a qualified assessor, while a competency hearing is a formal legal proceeding that may use the assessment results as evidence.

Does RMPS provide capacity assessments outside Calgary?

While our main office is in Calgary, we offer online capacity assessments across Alberta. Please contact us to discuss if this option is a fit for you or the person you are considering for the assessment.

How much does a capacity assessment cost?

Under the regulations, the fee for a capacity assessment is:

Up to $500 for a guardianship or trusteeship assessment.
Up to $700 for a combined guardianship and trusteeship assessment.

If covering the cost of a capacity assessment creates a financial hardship, you may contact the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) to discuss available options.

Capacity Assessment