What's the purpose of an ADL assessment?

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) assessment is an evaluation of a worker's level of functioning in relation to personal care plus recreational and social activities. The process is managed by an occupational therapist and should be preferably conducted in the worker's home environment.

To conduct the process smoothly, an ADL check-list is formulated depending on the level of injury or illness. These checklists guide the health practitioners and help highlight any other areas a patient might need help in.

Areas covered in an ADL assessment

The basic elements evaluated include;

• Functional mobility (transferring and access)
• Personal care (grooming and personal hygiene)
• Physical functions (Self-feeding, dressing and bathing)
• Home establishment and maintenance
• Social interaction and communication
• Community integration

What is the purpose of an ADL assessment

The main purpose of an ADL assessment is to help reduce the impact of an injury or illness on a worker enabling a return to work within the shortest possible time. The evaluation is also used to determine an employee's work capacity. The process is designed to;

• Assess a worker's ability to carry out basic tasks
• Identify strategies to maximise and maintain a worker's independence
• Determining the need for equipment and therapeutic aids designed to compensate for any functional limitations by the use of equipment
• Re-educate and train the worker in adaptive methods
• Determine the need for modifications in the household
• Determine whether the worker needs support services from a third party and recommend the type and extent of the help.

At Recovery Partners our therapist can help review your worker's ability to independently perform activities and assist them to maintain or gain independence in ADLs.

Our ADL assessment services are available in multiple locations nationwide.

For more information, you can make enquiries here. Alternatively, our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789).

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