✅ Reviewed for accuracy and relevance by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM on July 22, 2025.
An individual must have sufficient mental capacity to legally give consent. When a person’s mental capacity is in question, screening tools, tests, and capacity assessments are used to evaluate psychological and cognitive capacity. These assessments are also used to screen for dementia or other cognitive issues.
Screening tools (such as MMSE, MoCA, and Mini-Cog, described below) – A quick gauge for whether in-depth testing is needed
In-depth tests (WMS) – Comprehensive analyses of specific psychological functions
Capacity assessments (MacCAT-T, ACE) – Evaluating decision-making ability for treatment and consent
This article shares a portion of the information covered on this topic in CCM Certification Made Easy, 4th Edition by Deanna Cooper Gillingham, RN, CCM, FCM (2025). For more details on this topic and related concepts, purchase your copy at CCMCertificationMadeEasy.com.
