Determining decision making capacity is an important component of planning the care of a person with dementia. Dr Zheng has been diagnosed early, so it is likely that he will be capable to finalise a legal will, organise the management of financial affairs, provide consent or non-consent for medical treatment and participate in discussions to formulate an advanced care plan.

If there are concerns about capacity, patients can be referred to local geriatric or pyschogeriatric services for further assessment.