Person—ability to perform activities of daily living (HACC), code N
Data Element Attributes
Identifying and definitional attributes | |
Metadata item type:![]() | Data Element |
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Short name:![]() | Dependency in activities of daily living |
Synonymous names:![]() | Functional status |
METEOR identifier:![]() | 385487 |
Registration status:![]() | Community Services (retired), Recorded 16/11/2009 |
Definition:![]() | An indicator of a HACC client's need for assistance with an activity of daily living, as represented by a code. |
Context:![]() | Assessment of functional dependency identifies areas in which a person requires assistance with daily living and quantifies the extent to which the person needs other people to enable them to carry out normal activities of daily living in their home and in the community. A common approach to the measurement of dependency is desirable if HACC clients are to receive the services appropriate to their needs. Identification of the dependency level of clients facilitates the analysis of need for assistance commonly provided by other government programs. The functional status items recorded in the MDS enable comparisons of levels of dependency of HACC clients with population data such as that obtained through the ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, and the Census. |
Data Element Concept:![]() | Person—dependency in activities of daily living |
Value Domain:![]() | Dependency in activities of daily living HACC code N |
Data element attributes | |
Collection and usage attributes | |
Guide for use:![]() | This element records the person’s capabilities in the respective activities based on information from the client as well other relevant sources such as carer(s), family, and service providers.
The person should be rated on what they are capable of doing rather than what they do. The questions ask 'Can you?' rather than 'Do you?' since some persons may not, for example, do the housework because their carer does it for them, yet be quite capable of undertaking it themselves. In rating an item that is irrelevant (for example, the person has no shops in the vicinity or does not use any medication), base the rating on what the person would be capable of doing if the item was relevant to their situation.
In assessing capability, take into account not only physical function but also cognition (such as problems caused by dementia or an intellectual disability) and behaviour (such as unpredictable or challenging behaviour). Clients able to complete a task with verbal prompting should not be rated as independent (and therefore should be rated as a 2).
Rate the person’s functional status with current aids and appliances in place.
Record Code 9 for unanswered items.
1. Housework: Ask the client, “Can you do your housework.... Without help (can clean floors etc)? With some help (can do light housework but need help with heavy housework)? Or are you completely unable to do housework? Not stated/inadequately described.
2. Transport: Ask the client, “Can you get to places out of walking distance.... Without help (can drive your own car, or travel alone on buses or taxis)? With some help (need someone to help you or go with you when travelling)? Or are you completely unable to travel unless emergency arrangements are made for a specialised vehicle like an ambulance? Not stated/inadequately described.
3. Shopping: Ask the client, “Can you go out shopping for groceries or clothes (assuming you have transportation).... Without help (taking care of all shopping needs yourself)? With some help (need someone to go with you on all shopping trips)? Or are you completely unable to any shopping? Not stated/inadequately described.
4. Medication: Ask the client, “Can you take your own medicine.... Without help (in the right doses at the right time)? With some help (able to take medication if someone prepares it for you and/or reminds you to take it)? Or are you completely unable to take your own medicines? Not stated/inadequately described.
5. Money: Ask the client, “Can you handle your own money.... Without help (write cheques, pay bills etc)? With some help (manage day-to-day buying but need help with managing your chequebook and paying bills)? Or are you completely unable to handle money? Not stated/inadequately described.
6. Getting to Places Further than Walking Distance: Ask the client, “Can you get to places out of walking distance…. Without help (they can drive their own car, or travel alone on buses or taxis) With some help (they need someone to help them, or go with them when travelling) They are completely unable to travel unless emergency arrangements are made for a specialised vehicle like an ambulance Not stated/inadequately described.
7. Bathing/showering: Ask the client, “Can you take a bath or shower…. Without help? With some help (eg, need help getting into or out of the tub)? Or are you completely unable to bathe? Not stated/inadequately described.
8. Communication: Ask the client, “Do you ever need help to communicate (to understand or be understood by others)? No Yes, sometimes Yes, always Not stated/inadequately described.
9. Dressing: Ask the client, “Can you dress yourself.... Without help? With some help? Or are you completely unable to dress yourself? Not stated/inadequately described.
10. Eating: Ask the client, “Can you eat.... Without help? With some help? Or are you completely unable to eat without help? Not stated/inadequately described.
11. Toileting: Ask the client, “Can you manage the toilet.... Without help? With some help? Or are you completely unable to manage the toilet without help? Not stated/inadequately described.
12. Getting out of bed/moving around at home (or away from home): Ask the client, “Do you ever need help to get out of bed, or move around at home (or at places away from home)? No Yes, sometimes Yes, always Not stated/inadequately described.
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Collection methods:![]() | It is recommended that functional status should be recorded for HACC care recipients at the beginning of each HACC service episode. The agency should also assess the currency of this information at subsequent assessments/re-assessments within a HACC service episode and should update the agency’s record of the person’s Functional Dependency status if necessary. Note that some jurisdictions may use a different 3-level coding system for this element. Reporting requirements: Agencies should report the most recent functional status that the agency has recorded for the person. Information provided by the agency about the person’s functional status will be considered to be at least as up to date as the Date of last update reported for the person. This is in line with the request that agencies assess and update the information they have about a person’s functional status at the beginning of each HACC service episode as well as at subsequent assessments/re-assessments within a HACC service episode. |
Comments:![]() | This data element is not meant to limit the screening and assessment tools used by agencies, except to the extent that the nine items which are required for MDS reporting will need to be incorporated into the tools used. |
Source and reference attributes | |
Origin:![]() | Developed for the HACC Data Dictionary Version 2.0, 2005 |
Relational attributes | |
Implementation in Data Set Specifications:![]() | Home and Community Care (HACC) functional status cluster Community Services (retired), Recorded 16/11/2009 |