Older adults and capacity-related assessment: promise and caution

Data from 30 cognitively intact and emotionally stable Canadian elders provided support for the construct validity of the Hopemont Capacity Assessment Instrument and the Independent Living Scales. Subscale scores in the health or financial domains on these two capacity-related instruments were moderately correlated; weaker correlations were observed between ILS and HCAI subscales tapping discrepant domains. Training in thinking aloud and responding to hypothetical questions did not affect scores on these measures, nor were scores on brief depression and anxiety scales statistically associated with standing on capacity-related measures. Reading comprehension was associated with scores on the Hopemont Capacity Assessment Instrument.