The capacity to make a decision may be affected by the following considerations:

• The type of decision being made. Someone with dementia might still be able to choose what kind of clothes to wear, but perhaps not whether to take medicines.
• Change over time. Imagine that Jack had a severe infection that made him very confused. After this infection is cured, he might be able again to decide whether or not to take the medication.
• Can be difficult to assess. Sometimes it is not clear, in which case there is no other alternative other than to help the person living with dementia make a decision that is in their best interest.