Concerned About Decision-Making Capacity?
An Expert neuropsychological Capacity Assessment Can Help
Sometimes we need to understand a person’s competency to make real-world decisions or to live independently. We may have been concerned about decisions they have been making or just be worried that they are beginning to experience cognitive difficulties due to a condition like dementia. Other times, there may be concerns that others can challenge the decisions a person has made, especially those involved in estate planning.
These are the situations in which neuropsychological capacity assessment can be helpful. We can provide estate attorneys objective data regarding a person’s capacity for either independent living, or in regards to specific issues related to the ability to contract, agree to power of attorney, or create or make changes to a will or trust.
Our assessments are also beneficial to families and caregivers, as we can assist them in the understanding the effects of injury and illnesses, such as Alzheimer's dementia, on a person's ability to live independently and make legal decisions, including writing wills or giving gifts.
What is a Decisional Capacity Assessment?
A comprehensive evaluation that can help determine if a person has a serious brain dysfunction that limits their ability to make decisions. The assessment can clarify what condition is affecting the person, such as dementia, cerebrovascular disease, a stroke, or some other type of neurocognitive disorder. More importantly, the assessment can clarify the person’s particular strengths and weaknesses in areas such as comprehension, attention, memory, and reasoning and determine if it is possible to support and strengthen a person’s capacity.
Good evaluations will describe intellectual functioning, as well as consider the impact of social and emotional challenges. Good evaluations will include a client interview, interview with family or caregivers if possible, a review of available medical records, and an individualized cognitive assessment taking into account the the specific decision to be made and its unique requirements for demonstrating capacity.
An expert in capacity assessment can:
Provide an objective assessment of fiduciary competency, testamentary capacity and/or need for probate conservatorship
Complete capacity declaration forms for court
Diagnosis and confirm brain-based impairment in cognitive function or behavior, including assessment of exaggerating/malingering of deficits
Explore issues of undue influence
Assist in cases of contested wills or estate planning, where a psychological autopsy may be necessary to understand a deceased person’s capacity
Providing expert witness testimony
Why Get a Capacity Assessment With Us?
Our psychologists are experts in the field
Dr. Erik Lande is a leading expert in neuropsychology and decision-making capacity
He is a California Licensed Psychologist and a clinical Neuropsychologist
CLICK BELOW FOR FURTHER INFORMATION about Dr. Lande
-
Twenty years of experience, both as a clinician and training others.
In his practice, Insight Neuropsychology Dr. Lande oversees 4 other psychologists, as well as trainees and postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Lande has been a continuing lecturer at University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was also the Director of the Psychology Assessment Center and he has also been a lecturer for Cal Lutheran University
-
Helped to establish Ventura County’s Rapid Response Expert Team, a multidisciplinary team that assists Adult Protective Services by providing training, consultations to social workers, and capacity assessments in the field, seeing these challenging clients where they live in order to determine how best to help them.
Dr. Lande and his team have served the Ventura County RRET for over 10 years
-
Although primarily a clinician, Dr. Lande remains involved in scholarly research and publication. Here are several journal articles.
Utilizing Comprehensive Neuropsychological Assessment in Adult Protective Service Intervention in Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 2022 - E. Lande, J. Gauthier, & A. Olson
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2023-06886-005
Transnational Scam Predators and Older Adult Victims: Contributing Characteristics of Chronic Victims and Developing an Effective Response in the Dept. of Justice Journal of Federal Law and Practice, 2018 - D. Deem & E. Lande
https://www.justice.gov/usao/page/file/1121446/download
-
Dr. Lande provides keynote talks and trainings for the general public, mental health professionals, law enforcement and social services.
His trainings often focusing on decision-making capacity, the aging brain, and how to work effectively with those with dementia.
He has had the honor to provide webinars for the Dept. of Justice and training for the FBI, as well as crisis intervention trainings for local enforcement. He has provided trainings for the Adult Protective Services Training Academies in the state of California, organizations of estate planning attorneys, and the California State Association of Public Administrators, Public Guardians, and Public Conservators.
-
Dr. Lande is a California licensed psychologist and has testified in Ventura, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
He has experience testify in court and in arbitration hearings.
He can provide comprehensive record reviews to assist you in making sense of your case.
Contact Us at (805) 988-6197 or
info@insightneuropsychology.com
We serve Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara Counties, with offices in each location.
Our Camarillo Office
1200 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 245
Camarillo, CA 93010
Our Los Angeles/San Fernando Valley Office
5959 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Suite 115
Woodland Hills, CA 91367