--- title: "Senior care assessment tools and checklists" description: "Free self-checks and printable lists to size up what a parent needs: care-level matcher, ADL checklist, home care check and caregiver burnout quiz." url: https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/ updated: 2026-10-10 site: Senior Choice Care --- Tools and checklists # Assess what your parent needs Before you call anyone, it helps to describe the situation clearly. These tools turn "Mom isn't doing well" into specifics a doctor, care manager or provider can act on. None of them leaves your browser. **3 minute read** Updated October 9, 2026Written by the Senior Choice Care team In short A senior care assessment starts with three questions: which everyday tasks your parent needs help with, how much of the day someone needs to be nearby, and what medical care is involved. Our care-level matcher and ADL checklist turn those answers into a level of care and a printable list for the doctor. **Written by the Senior Choice Care team** Updated October 9, 2026. Facts are checked against the sources listed at the end of this page. General information; every family is different. **On this page** 1. [ Start here](#s-start-here) 2. [Learn the terms professionals use](#s-learn-the-terms-professionals-use) 3. [All tools and guides](#s-all-tools-and-guides) 4. [Questions families ask](#s-faq) ## Start here - **[Care-level matcher](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/care-level-matcher/):** six questions that point to the lowest level of care that covers your parent's needs. - **[Is home care enough?](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/is-home-care-enough/):** for families already using help at home. - **[Caregiver burnout quiz](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/caregiver-burnout-quiz/):** a check on how you are holding up. ## Learn the terms professionals use Care teams describe needs in terms of activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing and dressing, and instrumental activities (IADLs), such as shopping and managing money. Knowing the terms helps you follow an assessment and ask for the right help. ## All tools and guides [Explainer ### Activities of daily living (ADLs): what they are and why they matter The six ADLs care teams check, how they differ from IADLs, how help with ADLs shapes care choices and costs, and a free printable checklist. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/activities-of-daily-living/)[ Interactive tool ### Care-level matcher: which level of care fits right now? Six questions on daily tasks, memory, medical needs and supervision point to the level of care that fits now, from help at home to memory care or hospice. Tool **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/care-level-matcher/)[ Self-check for caregivers ### Caregiver burnout quiz: a 2-minute self-check Ten questions about the last two weeks to size up caregiver strain, built on warning signs listed by the National Institute on Aging, with next steps. Tool **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/caregiver-burnout-quiz/)[ Screening guide ### Cognitive tests for dementia: what families should know How doctors screen for memory problems, what tests like the MoCA and SLUMS measure, and what comes after a screening. A guide for families. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/cognitive-tests-for-dementia/)[ Explainer ### What is a geriatric assessment? A comprehensive geriatric assessment looks at health, function, memory, mood, medicines and home. What it covers, who does it, and when to ask for one. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/geriatric-assessment/)[ Explainer ### What is a geriatrician? A geriatrician is a doctor trained in the care of older adults. What they do, when a referral helps, and how to find one near you. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/geriatrician/)[ Explainer ### Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) IADLs are the household tasks of living on your own: meals, shopping, housework, money, medicines, phone and transport. Why they slip first and what helps. Guide **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/iadls/)[ Self-check ### Is care at home still enough? A self-check Seven questions on hours of help, nights, daily care, memory and medical needs, to see whether help at home still covers what your parent needs. Tool **Read**](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/is-home-care-enough/) A screening tool is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If you notice a sudden change in memory, confusion or ability, call the doctor the same day. ## Questions families ask ### Who does a formal senior care assessment? Doctors, nurses, social workers and geriatric care managers do them. Medicaid programs and some insurers also use their own assessments to decide eligibility. ### Is there a free assessment? Your local Area Agency on Aging can help you find services and may offer assessments. The Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116, can tell you which office serves your parent. The tools on this page are free too. ### What are ADLs and IADLs? ADLs are basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, moving from bed to chair, continence and eating. IADLs are the tasks of running a household, such as housework, shopping, finances and using the phone. ### Do these tools store my answers? No. They run in your browser and nothing you choose is sent anywhere. ## Sources - [National Institute on Aging: What is long-term care?](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/long-term-care/what-long-term-care) - [Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing: Katz Index of Independence in ADLs](https://hign.org/consultgeri/try-this-series/katz-index-independence-activities-daily-living-adl) - [Eldercare Locator, U.S. Administration for Community Living (1-800-677-1116)](https://eldercare.acl.gov/) ## Read next - [Care options](https://seniorchoicecare.com/care-options/) - [Compare](https://seniorchoicecare.com/compare/) - [Check a provider](https://seniorchoicecare.com/check-a-provider/) - [ADLs](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/activities-of-daily-living/) - [Care-level matcher](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/care-level-matcher/) - [Caregiver burnout quiz](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/caregiver-burnout-quiz/) - [Cognitive tests](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/cognitive-tests-for-dementia/) - [Geriatric assessment](https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/geriatric-assessment/) --- Canonical page: https://seniorchoicecare.com/assess/