Occupational Therapists are regulated health care professionals trained to assess an individual’s occupational performance within the context of his/ her environment.

Occupational Therapy assessment following an accident/ injury determines the client’s physical, cognitive and psychoemotional status as it impacts the client’s ability to perform activities of daily living. Assessments focus on an individual’s ability to perform meaningful activities that are necessary and important to them.

The Care Giving Assessment considers the client’s pre-accident level of function and outlines current performance levels in the following areas:

· Caregiving: personal care or supervision needs for children or individuals within household with special needs

The assessment takes into consideration the client’s pre-accident level of household responsibility, while also identifying roles and responsibilities of other household members.

Assessment Outcome

The care giving assessment report is individualized to the client’s status. Recommendations are client centered. All recommendations are reasonable and necessary to minimize the impact of the ongoing injuries, impairments and sequelae. Treatment recommendations are aimed to improve the client’s level of function with the goal of resuming pre-accident levels of activity. Recommendations may include: aides and devices, education, activity programs. Care giving support needs will be identified including type of assistance, hours of assistance per week and expected duration.

Assessment Methodology

The assessment process includes:

• Review of provided medical and rehabilitation documentation if available

• Clinical interview with the client

• Clinical interview with the family or other identified individuals of support (if necessary and available)

• Physical screening: range of motion, strength testing, transfers, mobility, balance. Standardized methods may include grip testing, goniometer measurements, berg balance test

• Cognitive Screening: memory, orientation, executive skills

• Psychoemotional screening: client interview, family interview (if available)

• Functional Assessment: Client demonstration and observation of performance of a range of care giving tasks as appropriate and medically able

• Observation of childcare tasks if appropriate

In order to complete the Care Giver Assessment, the therapist will;

• Communicate with client (coordination, review of recommendations/plan and obtain signatures)

• Perform medical/rehabilitation report review and summary/communicate with other team members

• Complete report preparation (data analysis)