Decision making for people with developmental disability who are ageing

To provide health care for a person with developmental disability who is ageing, practitioners need to establish whether they have capacity for decision making, if they need decision making support, or whether they have a medical treatment decision maker or ‘person responsible’. Even if the person with developmental disability lacks capacity for decision making, their preferences (whether expressed verbally or non-verbally), should be sought whenever possible. For advice, see Consent, capacity and decision making in people with developmental disability.