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

· Personal/Self Care: dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting, feeding, sleeping , medication management

· Homemaking: laundry, meal preparation including planning and clean up , grocery shopping

· Housecleaning: dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, bathroom cleaning, bed linens, tidying, heavy/seasonal cleaning

· Home Maintenance: lawn and garden care, snow removal , seasonal needs, repairs

· 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.

Safety and accessibility within the home environment post accident is a critical part of the assessment. The assessment will describe the home environment and provide necessary and reasonable recommendations to ensure optimal safety.

Assessment Outcome

The functional home 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. Homemaking/ housekeeping/ maintenance 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 self care and homemaking/ housekeeping tasks as appropriate and medically able

• Home Environment: Observation of entrances/exits, stairs, bathroom , flooring , size, accessibility

• Caregiving: interview with parent, observation of childcare tasks if appropriate

In order to complete the Functional Home 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

• Perform homemaking/housecleaning/home maintenance assessment (to include interview, standardized and functional assessment)

• Complete report preparation (data analysis)