A-08: The Importance and Need of Neuropsychology Colloboration with Adult Protective Services

Abstract

Objective: Declining cognition can lead to real-world issues, including grave disability holds, Adult Protective Services (APS) involvement, and consideration of conservatorship. APS now making greater use of neuropsychology (Lande, et. al., 2022) and major neurocognitive disorders (MND) are a prominent issue. This case italicizes the importance of neuropsychology colloboration with APS to ensure proper care and address safety issues. Method/Data Selection: A 77 year old male with multiple past decompression sickness episodes and recent cognitive decline was referred from APS due to a recent 5150 hold (client found with no food in his home for 10 days, acute delirium, and impaired decision making. Assessment included a clinical interview, NAB, WAIS-V Coding, DKEFS Verbal Fluency, Trails A/B, RIAS, Cognistat Repetition, HADS, and ILS. Results/Data Synthesis: Results relating to MND and a need for conservertship revealed a severe cognitive deficit (RIST-2< 1st percentile), impairment in verbal memory (NAB story learning & list learning < 1st percentile), verbal story delayed recall (4th percentile), visual memory (NAB shape learning 6th percentile), delayed shape recognition (14th percentile. Comprehension had a moderate deficit (NAB =first percentile). Functional skills and judgment were tested via the ILS with dependent results for both health & safety judgment (dependent range) and money management skills (dependent range). Conclusions: This case emphasizes the amalgamation of a 5150 hold, APS involvement, decompression sickness, and a decline in cognition and memory seen through a diagnosis of MND. It supports the need for neuropsychological testing in the the case of a hold to assist APS to align individuals with the proper care and treatment.