Increasing access to fair capacity evaluation for discharge decision-making for people with aphasia: A randomised controlled trial

Background: Every competent person in Ontario has the right to decide on a discharge destination. If capacity to consent to such a decision is in doubt, it is evaluated. The current process is largely inaccessible to people with aphasia, there are no methods to help someone overcome communication barriers and demonstrate an understanding of information and an appreciation of the consequences of a decision. Health care professionals who evaluate capacity also report significant problems in communicating with this population. Competent individuals with aphasia have erroneously been found lacking in capacity.Aims: To develop and test the effectiveness of a communicatively accessible capacity evaluation tool with communication training supports; thus, allowing health care professionals to evaluate more equitably the capacity of people living with aphasia to consent to be admitted to long term care.Methods & Procedures: The Communication Aid to Capacity Evaluation (CACE) was developed and validated. Thirty-two...