Natalie is a Designated Capacity Assessor in Province of Ontario. Please contact her directly at [email protected] to discuss your specific request. Natalie works primarily with adults and older adults with dementia, intellectual disabilities, and other neurological disorders.  Her catchment area is Waterloo, Wellington, Brant, Perth, and Oxford. She will also provide letters of opinion for other types of legal capacity including granting/revoking a power of attorney and making or changing a will.

What is a Capacity Assessment:

Designated Capacity Assessors in the Province of Ontario (as per the Substitute Decisions Act, 1992) have completed the training provided by the Ministry of Attorney General and received the designation of a Capacity Assessor. Capacity assessments are legal assessments which are designed to determine if someone can understand and appreciate the consequences of their decisions related to their property (finances) or personal care (healthcare, nutrition, shelter, clothing, hygiene, and safety). 

A person is incapable if the person is not able to understand information that is relevant to making a decision OR is not able to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of a decision or lack of decision.

If you are concerned about someone’s capacity to make decisions about their personal care or property, a capacity assessment by a designated capacity assessor may be appropriate if:

• There is no continuing power of attorney in place (unless there is a condition that it only comes into effect when a person is “incapable”)
• A specific decision needs to be made or issue has arisen, and it is unclear if they are able to capably make the necessary decision(s).
• The person is willing to participate in a capacity assessment.
• Other less restrictive options have been considered and are not suitable, such as granting a power of attorney, trusteeship, or informal supports (e.g. setting up direct payments, home care to assist with medications, etc.). Guardianship is a last resort.

For answers to frequently asked questions about capacity assessments, including under what circumstances one may be required, please see the Capacity Assessment Office’s website:

Capacity Assessment Office Website

The Capacity Assessment Office: Questions and Answers

Cost:

The total cost of the assessment will depend on several factors, including:

• the nature and complexity of the person’s condition
• the assessor’s experience in conducting assessments.
• the time required to complete the assessment and the related forms.
• the assessor’s expenses, including travel.

A Financial Assistance Program is available to cover the cost of a capacity assessment in situations where an individual cannot afford the fees.  Applications for financial assistance can be obtained by contacting the Capacity Assessment Office.

You can get financial assistance to cover the cost of an assessment if you cannot afford the fees. Financial assistance is available if:

• the kind of assessment required cannot, by law, be completed by anyone other than a designated capacity assessor
• the person or their family member requests the assessment, and the person will not refuse the assessment
• the person requesting the assessment meets the financial criteria

Get an application for financial assistance by contacting the Capacity Assessment Office:

by email at [email protected]

by phone at toll free 1-866-521-1033