Table 1 Description of clinical assessment protocols[13]

Activities of daily living/rehabilitation potential

Identify clients with the potential for improved independence in activities of daily living or self-care

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

Identify clients who could improve on IADLs (e.g., meal preparation, managing finances or medications)

Health promotion

To promote healthy behaviours such as increased physical activity and smoking cessation

Institutional risk

Identify individuals with a high risk of institutionalization and suggests ways to help them stay in the community

Communication disorders

Recognize communication issues and provide strategies to aide in effective communication between clients and others

Visual function

Evaluate clients with new or existing vision impairments

Alcohol use and hazardous drinking

Identify alcohol use that may be excessive or at a level that might put client at risk of negative outcomes

Cognition

Determine whether cognitive problems are present, either acute or long-standing

Behaviour

Identify persons with behavioral symptoms such as wandering, being verbally or physically abusive

Depression and anxiety

Assist in identifying persons who exhibit signs/symptoms of anxiety or depression and put forward potential treatment options

Elder abuse

Identify clients who are living in abusive or neglectful conditions or who are risk of being in this situation

Social function

Assist with maintaining or restoring meaningful social connections

Cardio-respiratory

Identify problems of the cardiovascular or respiratory systems that require intervention by a medical professional

Dehydration

Alert the professional to clients experiencing dehydration or clients who are at risk of this outcome

Falls

Identify recent fall occurrences and if the client is at risk of falling in the future

Nutrition

Detection of malnutrition and clients who may be at risk for poor nutrition

Oral health

Detect oral health problems that may be leading to outcomes such as pain, difficulty with eating/talking, poor nutrition or a lack of enjoyment of food

Pain

Identify clients with pain that may result in impairments in everyday function

Pressure ulcers

Assist in identifying clients who have pressure ulcers or skin breakdown or who are at risk of this outcome

Skin and foot conditions

Identify persons who have skin conditions or issues related to the health of their feet (e.g., corns, bunions, fungi) or who are at risk of developing them

Adherence

Identify whether issues of non-adherence to suggested treatments/therapies is present

Brittle supports

Identify families who may be having difficulty continuing in their caregiving role

Medication management

Compile a list of all medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) being taken and asses if the client is at risk of inappropriate drug therapy

Palliative care

Evaluate whether a palliative approach to care is warranted

Preventative health care measures: immunization and screening

Identify clients who have not received preventative strategies such as blood pressure check, vaccinations

Psychotropic drugs

Identify individuals taking psychotropic drugs and who might benefit a review of their medications by a physician

Reduction of formal services

Evaluate the formal services being delivered currently and determine if the current formal services are beneficial or could be modified

Environmental assessment

Identify conditions in the home that may be hazardous and compromise client safety

Bowel management

Evaluate problems in bowel functioning as well as gastrointestinal issues

Urinary incontinence and indwelling catheter

To identify when incontinence is present or a catheter is being used and address the underlying causes of incontinence