A direct functional measure to help ascertain optimal level of residential care

A brief direct measure of daily living skills might help place cognitively impaired elders in suitable living environments. In this study, the Test of Everyday Functional Abilities (TEFA) as a possible adjunctive measure was investigated. The authors recruited 77 cognitively impaired persons in independent living (IL; N = 26), assisted living (AL; N = 25), and dementia special care (SC; N = 26) units. Participants in IL and AL were administered the TEFA and other instruments at baseline and every 6 months over 18 months and when transferred to a higher level oF care. Special care subjects were administered the same instruments only at baseline. The TEFA clearly separated IL, AL, and SC residents (P <.0001). A TEFA score >50 suggests adequate functional competence For IL; a score from 30 to 40 adequate functional competence for AL; and a score of <30 probable need for an SC unit in the absence oF a capable spouse.