Legal and Capacity Issues and Dementia

All adults have the right to be safe and to live a life free from abuse.  All people are entitled to this right, regardless of their circumstances. It is the responsibility of all service providers, statutory and non-statutory, to ensure that, service users are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and to prevent abuse.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act (2015) (as amended) is about supporting decision-making and maximising a person’s capacity to make decisions. This Act applies to everyone and is relevant to all health and social care services. This new Act assists in complying with human-rights obligations contained in the Constitution of Ireland, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. You can read more about this act here.

Further Reading and Supports