What is meant by “incapacitated adult?
An incapacitated adult is an individual, 18 years of age or older, who lacks sufficient understanding or capacity to make or communicate responsible decisions concerning his or her care and safety. Incapacity may be a result of functional impairment due to developmental disability, mental illness, physical illness or disability, chronic drug use, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s (or other types of dementia), or other causes. An incapacitated adult is also referred to as a “ward.
