Care process
Care assessment
A care assessment is a review of a person's health, abilities, home and support to decide what help they need. It looks at daily activities, safety, memory, medicines and family resources. The result guides a care plan. A nurse, social worker or care manager may do it.
Why it matters for your family
A good assessment starts the whole plan. The National Institute on Aging says geriatric care managers evaluate in-home care needs, make short- and long-term plans and coordinate services. Medicare discharge planning also asks whether a person is ready for bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, cooking and getting to appointments. Families often start with a list of tasks and miss safety, memory or loneliness. A common mistake is to assess on a good day. Describe the worst days too. Include the person in the talk. Repeat the assessment when health changes. HomeCare.com care advisors talk with families about needs, but the assessment does not replace a doctor's evaluation.
Source: nia.nih.gov
Read more: What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?
Related terms
- Needs assessmentA needs assessment is a structured review of what help a person needs and what support they already have.
- Care planA care plan is a written plan that lists a person's needs, goals, tasks, schedule and who does what.
- Level of care assessmentA level of care assessment is an evaluation that decides whether a person needs the level of care that a nursing facility provides.
- Activities of daily living (ADLs)Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the basic self-care tasks people do each day.
- Care advisorA care advisor is a person who helps a family understand home care options, share needs and arrange care.
- Home safety assessmentA home safety assessment is a room-by-room check of a home for hazards that could cause falls or injuries.
