Assessment Tools

Last updated on 17/07/2023

Accurate assessment is essential for understanding the needs, abilities, and challenges of individuals with dementia. A variety of tools help caregivers, healthcare professionals, and support teams develop tailored care plans. These assessments focus on different aspects of a person’s health, behaviour, cognition, and environment to ensure comprehensive and person-centred care.

 

 

Assessments Relating to Internal Factors

1. Physiological and Medical Evaluations

  1. Full Medical Assessment – A thorough review of medical history, medications, and physical health to identify underlying conditions affecting cognition and behaviour.
  2. Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) – Evaluates how a person’s behaviour relates to their environment and daily activities.
  3. The 4AT – A screening tool for delirium and cognitive impairment.
  4. COGIMP Appendix C – A cognitive impairment screening that includes:
    1. PRISME – Evaluates neurocognitive and functional aspects of dementia.
    2. Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) – Identifies delirium in hospital settings.

2. Cognitive and Perceptual Assessments

  1. Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) – Examines behaviour patterns related to cognitive function.
  2. Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) – A standardised tool for evaluating the care needs of individuals in residential settings.
  3. Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence (ABC) Chart – Tracks behavioural triggers, responses, and consequences.
  4. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) – Measures psychiatric symptoms such as delusions, agitation, and depression.
  5. Behavioural Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease (Behave-AD) – Focuses on behavioural disturbances associated with Alzheimer’s.
  6. Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) – Assesses different types of agitation in individuals with dementia.

3. Neurobehavioural Assessments

  1. Behavioural Symptoms in Alzheimer’s Disease (Behave-AD) – Identifies neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia.
  2. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) – Evaluates a broad range of neurobehavioural symptoms.
  3. Patient and Caregiver Interview – Gathers insights into emotional and cognitive changes.

4. Psychological Assessments:

  1. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) – Screens for depression in older adults.
    1. Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence (ABC) Chart – Assesses behavioural patterns.
    2. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) – Measures anxiety and depression levels.
    3. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) – A common cognitive screening tool.
    4. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) – Identifies symptoms of depression.
    5. Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist – Evaluates cognitive abilities based on activity engagement.
    6. Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) – Assesses subjective well-being.
    7. Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) – Observes care interactions to improve person-centred approaches.

 

 

Assessments Relating to External Factors

1. Social and Quality of Life Assessments

  1. Comprehensive Biopsychosocial Assessment – Evaluates social, emotional, and physical factors influencing dementia care.
  2. Residents’ Perspective on Quality of Life (Subjective) – Captures individual experiences of well-being.
  3. Staff Observations (Objective) – Provides an external view of behavioural patterns.
  4. Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence (ABC) Charts – Helps identify behavioural triggers.
  5. Sleep Charts – Tracks sleep disturbances that may affect cognitive and emotional well-being.
  6. Quality of Life Assessments:
    1. QoL-AD – Measures overall life satisfaction.
    2. DEM-QOL – Examines dementia-specific quality of life factors.

2. Personal Activities of Daily Life Assessments

  1. Functional Assessments (Occupational Therapy) – Determines a person’s ability to perform daily activities.
  2. Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) – Examines functional decline.
  3. Barthel Index (BI) – Assesses mobility and independence.
  4. Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living – Rates ability to perform basic tasks.
  5. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) – Evaluates physical and cognitive functioning.
  6. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Profile – Tracks daily self-care skills.
  7. Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ) – Provides a structured self-care assessment.

3. Environmental and Sensory Considerations

  1. Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist – Assesses how an individual interacts with their environment.
  2. Sleep Checklist – Identifies sleep disturbances that may impact behaviour.
  3. Sensory Profile – Evaluates sensory processing abilities.
  4. Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence (ABC) Charts – Tracks environmental triggers for behavioural responses.
  5. Functional and Occupational Therapy (OT) Assessments – Determines how the environment affects daily living skills.