Determining Decisional Capacity & Consent of the Older Adult – 2025 Gero Comp Series

Join us for a free workforce development training by: Nirmala Dhar, MSW LCSW ACSW

Learning Objectives:

•Definition of capacity

•Gain knowledge of types of capacity

•Identify individuals at risk for impaired decision making

•Identify the core ethical tension involved when individuals refuse professional recommendations

•Know how to access for decisional capacity

**2 NASW CEUs pending**

Nirmala Dhar is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri and Bombay University, India. She is mission driven and has a passion to work with the most vulnerable clients, often with cross sector complex care needs. Nirmala has worked for 36 years in all aspects and programs of behavioral health in the public sector in Missouri, New Jersey, and Oregon. She is a senior policy analyst and the Older Adult Behavioral Health Lead Strategist for Oregon Health Authority ‘s Division of Behavioral Health. In this position she is the Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative Project Director, the PASRR Level II Coordinator and subject matter expert for her division. She is the Project ECHO Geriatric Behavioral Health Champion at OHA. Nirmala recently helped fund and establish the Center for Excellence for Behavioral Health and Aging at Portland State University – OHSU and is an active thought partner. Prior to working for OHA, she worked for Clackamas County Behavioral Health for 18 years. This included 10 years as the geriatric mental health specialist . She brings her strong social work and faith values to her work which is animated by anti-oppressive practice and the dignity and respect for all who we serve. Her career has been focused on the values of social justice and equity with a passionate focus on disability justice for individuals with serious mental illness.