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.
Start here
- Care-level matcher: six questions that point to the lowest level of care that covers your parent's needs.
- Is home care enough?: for families already using help at home.
- 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
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 ReadInteractive toolCare-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 ReadSelf-check for caregiversCaregiver 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 ReadScreening guideCognitive 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 ReadExplainerWhat 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 ReadExplainerWhat 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 ReadExplainerInstrumental 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 ReadSelf-checkIs 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 ReadQuestions 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.