Organizing functional assessment information
One way to organize functional assessment information is to identify within each functional domain the current status, functional description, linkage to symptoms of mental illness (if any), relevant history and past resources, cultural considerations, the person’s aspirations.
Moving from current status to function:
- Current status is important information to record
- Current status is more about WHAT IS. Function is more about HOW.
- When considering function, ask yourself and recipient, who, what, when, where, why, how and so what?
- The above questions will lead you to the description of how a person is functioning
- Status can imply some judgment. Function is more value neutral. It either serves the purpose or it doesn’t and the recipient defines the purpose.
Click here to view a table comparing status and function.