Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation
A Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation at Ascent Psychological Services, in Cincinnati, Ohio, is a comprehensive assessment of cognitive, emotional, and adaptive functioning to determine an individual’s capacity to make informed decisions regarding personal, medical, and financial matters; determine the need for guardianship; or evaluate supported decision-making arrangements.
Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation at Ascent Psychological Services
At Ascent Psychological Services in Cincinnati, OH, we offer a comprehensive evaluation aimed at providing clear, objective recommendations to assist families, attorneys, and courts in determining appropriate level of support, particularly for individuals with developmental disabilities, neurodivergent profiles, or the elderly.
We believe in a collaborative approach where you partner with your clinician to explore your cognitive, emotional, and adaptive functioning capabilities and we help you make informed decisions about needs for guardianship assignment or supported decision-making arrangements.
What the Evaluation Process Looks Like
Our Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation follows a structured process divided into four steps: Interview, testing, feedback, and report.
Every assessment begins with an initial diagnostic interview. During this session the clinician will ask about the concerns, developmental history, daily challenges, and behavioral patterns along with anything more the clinician decides is necessary. This helps the clinician understand the background and reason for evaluation.
Next is the testing phase. The Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation requires two testing sessions, as a more in depth understanding of decision making and adaptive functioning capabilities is necessary. These sessions may involve standardized assessments measuring memory, problem solving, language skills, visual spatial abilities, and emotional functioning. These tools are designed to capture a detailed picture of how your brain processes and maintains information.
Two to three weeks after the final testing appointment is the final session: the feedback. At this time the clinician provides an in-depth conclusion of your interview and tests. This feedback session is designed to support clarity, reduce confusion, and help individuals move forward with practical next steps in determining guardianship or supported decision-making arrangements.
About two to three weeks following the feedback, you will be provided a comprehensive written report that outlines what the clinician discussed in the feedback. This report can be shared with schools, healthcare providers, or other professionals involved in care.
Benefits of Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation
Those who pursue a Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation can achieve a deeper understanding the needs for decision-making support. One of the key advantages of this evaluation is that it opens the door to aid families, attorneys, and courts to determining the best way to support the individual moving forward. This can enhance their quality of life moving forward. Ultimately, this process empowers families to make informed decisions and develop effective, long-term support plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A comprehensive assessment of cognitive, emotional, and adaptive functioning to determine an individual’s capacity to make informed decisions regarding personal, medical, or financial matters; determine the need for guardianship; or evaluate supported decision-making arrangements. Findings provide clear, objective recommendations to assist families, attorneys, and courts in determining appropriate level of support, particularly for individuals with developmental disabilities, neurodivergent profiles, or the elderly.
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At Ascent Psychological Services in Cincinnati, OH, Dr. Lauren Elder, Ph.D., ABPP, and our team of Practicum students, who are directly supervised by Dr. Elder, provide these assessments.
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A guardianship, Capacity, & supported decision-making evaluation typically takes 4 session. However, if deemed necessary another session may be added.
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Depending on the provider you choose for you assessment will vary the cost. For Dr. Lauren Elder the complete total is $2,500. For a practicum student the total is $1,650. Regardless of your choice the payments will be divided into three parts. A $250 is due once the assessment sessions have been scheduled. The remaining total is divided into two parts. The first half is charged on the day of the first session and the second half is charged 30 days following the first half.
Moving Toward Clarity and Understanding
At Ascent Psychological Services, our Guardianship, Capacity, & Supported Decision-Making Evaluation offer a thorough and detailed exploration of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning along with decision-making capabilities. These evaluations empower individuals and families to gain insight into persistent challenges, enabling the ability to determine the need for guardianship or decision-making support.
Our comprehensive assessments, coupled with personalized recommendations, empowers individuals to determine how their loved ones can continue to live life to its fullest.