Assessment Quiz

Assessing For Home Care Needs
Tell tale signs include recognizing that your loved one requires constant supervision and/or assistance with everyday activities of daily living (ADL), these includes activities such as bathing and dressing.

It is often best to start assessing your needs and your loved one. Below a number of checklist that are available to help in evaluating what types of help are needed. Please consider the following areas:

* Personal Care: bathing, eating, dressing, toileting
* Household Care: cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping
* Health Care: medication management, physician's appointments, physical therapy
* Emotional Care: companionship, meaningful activities, conversation

It is also important to evaluate the person receiving care. He or she may be more comfortable with a home care worker who shares his or her cultural background and/or language. The care recipient may also have a preference between male and female caregivers, especially if the caregiver will be helping with his/her personal care.

Checklists

• Needs Assessment Worksheet from Family Care America available at Familycareamerica.com or call (804) 342-2337
• Helping My Parents: How Do I Know If They Need Help from AARP, available at http://www.aarp.org/ or call (800) 424-3410