Functional Ability Study Notes

Functional Ability Definition

  • Defined as the physical, psychological, cognitive, and social capacity to perform normal activities.

Scope of Functional Abilities

  • Ranges from fully independent (full function) to complete dependence (disability).

Categories of Activities

  • Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADLs): Examples include eating, hygiene, dressing, toileting.
  • Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): Examples include grocery shopping, cooking, using the telephone, cleaning, managing medications.

Lifespan Considerations

  • Influenced by developmental stages, milestones, physical and psychosocial health, cognitive ability, and sociocultural factors.

Attributes and Criteria for Assessment

  • Capacity: General ability to perform a task.
  • Performance: Actual completion under various circumstances, assistance needed, and time required.

Capacity & Performance Examples

  • Mary Roberts (84 years): Fully independent in shopping, cooking, and hygiene.
  • John Roberts (86 years): Partially dependent; needs transportation and assistance for bathing.

Roper-Logan-Tierney Model

  • Focuses on 12 activities of daily living (ADLs), promoting health over illness with ongoing assessments for independence.

Risk Factors for Impaired Functional Ability

  • Includes developmental abnormalities, advanced age, cognitive and mental health issues, trauma, chronic illness.

Functional Ability vs Disability

  • Importance of recognizing risks and assessing functional ability to improve health outcomes.

Assessment Tools

  • Barthel Index of ADLs
  • Katz Index of ADLs
  • Edmonton Functional Assessment

Functional Assessment Components

  • Factors include vision, hearing, mobility, nutrition, cognition, and ability to perform BADLs and IADLs.

Conclusions of Functional Assessment

  • Assess level of assistance needed; categorize performance from no difficulty to unable to perform.

Goals of Care

  • Maintain optimal independence, reduce risks, and use multidisciplinary interventions for improved quality of life.

Strategies to Reduce Risk

  • Educate on balanced nutrition, physical activity, routine checkups, stress management, and fall prevention.

Interventions for Functional Impairment

  • Call for a collaborative multidisciplinary approach tailored to the cause of the impairment (visual, mobility, cognitive).

Nursing Interventions

  • Assist with BADLs and IADLs, fall prevention, and promote exercise therapy and safe use of assistive devices.

Clinical Application

  • Identify risk factors, assessment tools, necessary referrals, and nursing diagnoses related to functional ability impairments.