Abstract
The growth in the aging population in the coming years represents a significant public health policy issue as more and more older adults wish to age in place. Additionally, as more older adults live longer, more older adults are living at home alone. Cognitive function and cognitive decline in later life represent additional challenges to the vulnerable elderly. As the health care system grapples to meet the needs of a growing aging population, the nursing profession can play an important role in health promotion and prevention efforts in cognition and aging. Given the need to advance more routine screening and assessment of cognition in later life, nurses are well poised to advance science and research and support recommendations for assessing cognitive function and cognitive decline in order to support safe and autonomous living in advanced age.
Highlights
Assessment of cognitive capacity to determine incapacitation or dependence represents a complex process that is not measured or defined [1]
This article intends to leverage the findings from research to advocate for the use of screening tools and best practice approaches to enhance the assessment of cognitive capacity for older adults to provide better measures of cognitive function for the health care system to use when determining capacity to self-direct
The change in the demographic landscape signals an important shift concerning the characteristics of the older adult population and its implications for cognitive function in advanced age
Summary
Assessment of cognitive capacity to determine incapacitation or dependence represents a complex process that is not measured or defined [1]. Given the complexity of cognitive functioning, this article serves to raise awareness concerning the need to establish more robust guidelines and standards for providing more accurate assessments in determining and predicting older adults' capacity, for those living alone in the community setting. This article intends to leverage the findings from research to advocate for the use of screening tools and best practice approaches to enhance the assessment of cognitive capacity for older adults to provide better measures of cognitive function for the health care system to use when determining capacity to self-direct. This article provides implications for nursing practice and their role in assessing cognitive capacity in older adults living alone in the community setting
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