The assessment of functional status is critical when caring for older adults.

Normal aging changes, acute illness, worsening chronic illness, and hospitalization can contribute to a decline in the ability to perform tasks necessary to live independently in the community.

The information from a functional assessment can provide objective data to assist with targeting individualized rehabilitation needs or to plan for specific in borne services such as meal preparation, nursing care, home-maker services, personal care, or continuous supervision.

A functional assessment can also assist the clinician to focus on the person's baseline capabilities, facilitating early recognition of changes that may signify a need either for additional resources or for a medical work-up (Gallo JJ, 2006).

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are basic self-care tasks, akin to the kinds of skills that people usually learn in early childhood.

More complex skills are referred to as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs).

Barthel Index

Assessment of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.

Available in 3 formats : Original, Modifed and Shah version.

5 -20 min.

The Assessment of Functioning is one of 8 domains of the

Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)