A Functional Independence & Support Needs Assessment is a structured, observational evaluation designed to document how an adult functions in day-to-day life and what supports are required to complete essential tasks. This service is intended to provide objective, practical information for planning and decision-support contextsparticularly when an individuals level of independence is unclear, disputed, or changing.

This assessment positions the evaluator as a functional observer and systems analyst, not a legal decision-maker. It is non-diagnostic and does not determine legal capacity, competency, or the necessity of guardianship.

What the service involves

A Functional Independence & Support Needs Assessment is typically completed in structured phases:

Referral clarification and scope definition
We begin by clarifying who is requesting the assessment, the purpose of the evaluation, and the limits of the service. This ensures the assessment remains focused on observable functioning and support needs.

Structured interview and background review (non-medical)
Relevant history may be reviewed to understand the context for the assessment, including daily routines, current supports, and functional concerns. When appropriate, collateral information may be incorporated (e.g., caregiver input or records that describe daily functioning).

Direct observation and task-based simulation
The core of the service is observation of functional performance. Depending on the referral question, this may include real-world observation and/or structured task simulations to document how tasks are completed:

• Independently

• With prompts or cues

• With partial assistance

• With full support

Functional analysis of support needs
Findings are synthesized to identify preserved independence, limitations, and support dependencies. The emphasis is on how tasks are performed in practice and what happens when supports are present versus absent.

What the assessment examines

This service focuses on observable functioning across core domains such as:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
  Personal care routines (e.g., hygiene, dressing, feeding) and other basic daily tasks.

• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
  Higher-level daily living skills such as scheduling/appointments, transportation use, household management, and task-based money handling.

• Decision-making in practice (support needs)
  How choices are understood, communicated, and followed through, including the role of prompts, structure, or assistance. The focus is on process and support requirements, not judgment quality.

• Support structures and dependency patterns
  Who provides assistance, what type of support is used, how often support is required, and how the environment is structured to promote functioning.

What this service does not do

To maintain clear professional boundaries, this service does not: - Determine legal capacity or competency - Recommend for or against guardianship - Provide medical, psychological, or psychiatric diagnoses - Offer prescriptive treatment recommendations.

What you receive

Clients receive a professional written report that may include: - Purpose and scope of the assessment - Methods and sources of information (interviews, observation, task simulations, collateral input) - Clear documentation of functional performance and support use - A summary of preserved independence and observed limitations - A scope limitations statement confirming the assessment is non-diagnostic and non-legal in nature.

Who benefits from a Functional Independence & Support Needs Assessment

This service may be helpful for: - Adults seeking objective documentation of day-to-day functioning - Families and caregivers who need clearer understanding of support needs - Attorneys, advocates, and service coordinators who require neutral functional information for planning or legal processes - Situations where independence is disputed or inconsistently reported and objective observation is needed.

A Functional Independence & Support Needs Assessment provides grounded, real-world documentation of functioning, helping others make proportional, informed decisions based on observable abilities and support requirements.