Assessments

Question 1

Mini Mental Status

Answer 1

Cognitive screening tool (does not give us detailed info)
Used for people with dementia b/c we can figure out if they’re mild, moderate or end stages of the disease
Examines orientation (time and place), immediate and delayed recall, attention and calculation, language and visuospatial ability
Useful for quantitatively estimating the severity of cognitive impairment and documenting cognitive changes
Good test-retest reliability
Sensitive and specific
No longer in the public domain (we used to use it for free, now you have to pay to use it)
Most widely studied in terms of dementia usage
A score of 20 to 24 suggests mild dementia, 13 to 20 suggests moderate dementia, and less than 12 indicates severe dementia.

Question 2

Mini Cog

Answer 2

Quick screening tool for probable dementia (2-4 minutes)
Combines word recall with clock draw
Sensitivity and specificity are strong
Performance on test is not influenced by education level or language skills
You have to be careful with cognitive assessments: are you picking up someone’s education level? Or an actual cognitive impairment?

Question 3

Moca

Answer 3

A rapid screening for mild cognitive dysfunction
MCI: mild cognitive impairment
Assesses attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuoconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations and orientation
In the public domain
Translated into 27 languages
Good inter-rater reliability, validity
Add a point for those with less than 12 years of education
Scoring: 0 to 30, with a score of 26 and higher generally considered normal.

Question 4

Kitchen Task Assessment (KTA) (Standardized assessment!)

Answer 4

A functional measure that examines level of cognitive support required by a person with dementia to complete a cooking task
Client asked to prepare a box of pudding with set up, instructions for stove use, directions for locating items, large print instructions available.
Cueing provided if needed (verbal and physical).
Initiation, organization, performance of all steps, sequencing, judgment, safety and task completion noted
0-18 score (higher=impairment)
Designed for people with dementia to see the support they need to do the kitchen activity
Good inter-rater reliability, construct validity, internal consistency
Clinical utility: Provides information regarding assistance level needed

Question 5

Robnett Home Safety Screening/Safe at Home (Non-standardized)

Answer 5

Provides data that reveals a client’s ability to deal with safety hazards
Clients are asked to identify and correct 8 safety hazards in the kitchen
Avoid cueing the client, note number of times instructions have to be repeated
Use ambulation device as needed
If OT asked for guidance, client instructed to make corrections as if at home
Do not enter kitchen unless client can state instructions
Note order of identifying hazards that are found and safely corrected, how environment scanned, balance and coordination.
Important to check for their priorities and their own safety
Safety with corrections depends on mobility status
i.e. for the spill on the floor: the ability to clean up the spill safely depends on mobility status à need to use clinical judgement
Non-standardized, but useful for discharge planning