OT Evaluation and Assessment of ADLs

Learning Objectives

• Describe the role of occupational therapy practitioners in the evaluation and assessment of activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) across practice settings.
• Identify and compare standardized ADL assessment tools, including the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Barthel Index, Katz ADL Index, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), with regard to administration, scoring, and clinical application.
• Apply task analysis methodology to evaluate self-care ADL performance, including feeding, grooming, bathing, dressing, and toileting, using standardized assist level classifications.
• Assess functional mobility and transfer skills as components of ADL performance, including bed mobility, sit-to-stand transitions, and wheelchair management.
• Evaluate instrumental activities of daily living, including meal preparation, home management, financial management, medication management, and community mobility.
• Analyze the impact of cognitive impairment on ADL performance and identify appropriate cognitive assessment approaches, including the Allen Cognitive Levels framework.
• Select developmentally appropriate ADL assessment methods for pediatric populations, incorporating family-centered evaluation principles and school-based functional assessment.
• Identify age-related factors affecting ADL performance in geriatric populations, including frailty, fall risk, caregiver burden, and discharge planning considerations.
• Integrate clinical reasoning to select appropriate assessment tools based on client factors, performance contexts, and practice setting requirements.
• Document ADL evaluation findings in a manner consistent with regulatory requirements and evidence-based practice standards.