Validation of the MEDSAIL Tool to Screen for Capacity for Safe and Independent Living Among Nursing Home Residents

Capacity for safe and independent living (SAIL) refers to an individual's ability to solve problems associated with everyday life and perform activities necessary for living independently. Little guidance exists on the assessment of capacity for SAIL among nursing home residents. As a result, capacity for SAIL is not fully considered in the development of discharge plans to ensure safety and independence in the community. We reasoned that this problem could be addressed with the Making and Executing Decisions for Safe and Independent Living (MEDSAIL) tool, developed to screen for capacity for SAIL among community-dwelling older adults.