ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 May 1992
Page Count: 4

Assessing Civil Competence in the Elderly
Barone, DF
Associate professor, Nova University, School of Psychology, FL

Schwartz, JJ
Senior psychologist, Forensic Service, Unit 23 Florida State Hospital, FL

Abstract

This study was designed to establish reliability of the Community Competence Scale—Revised (CCS-R) and provide evidence for its validity in making discriminations relevant to civil competence in the elderly. The CCS-R is an individually administered structured interview of 17 subscales. Criterion groups were formed by drawing a sample of research participants from a retirement complex with various levels of care and with nurses having extensive knowledge of the residents' level of functioning. The study demonstrated high reliability and found converging evidence for the effectiveness of the CCS-R in making discriminations about competence in the elderly. The study has added to the growing evidence that it is possible to standardize the assessment of civil competence, thereby making the adjudication process a more accurate one.

Keywords:
psychiatry, civil competence, elderly

Paper ID: JFS12009J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12009J
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