OT- Functional Capacity Assessment
Functional Capacity Assessments: understanding how disability impacts everyday life
A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) provides a comprehensive assessment of how a person’s disability, injury, illness or other condition affects their ability to manage everyday activities and participate in home, community, social, educational and employment environments.
At Maple Allied Health, we look beyond diagnosis to understand how a person actually functions in their everyday life, including the things they can do independently, the areas where they experience difficulty, and the level of assistance they require. Our assessments are individualised, practical and evidence-based, with recommendations designed to reflect the person’s specific functional needs and goals.
What can we assess?
Depending on the person's circumstances, a Functional Capacity Assessment may consider:
- Personal care/ self-care
- Domestic and household tasks
- Mobility and transfers
- Community access and participation
- Communication
- Cognition, memory and executive functioning
- Emotional regulation and psychosocial functioning
- Social and recreational participation
- Education and employment
- Medication and health management
- Daily routines and organisation
- Safety and risk
- Independence and supported living needs
- Informal and formal support requirements
- Assistive technology and equipment needs
- Home modifications and environmental requirements
We assess more than what a person can do
Functional capacity is not simply a question of whether someone can complete a task.
A person may be physically capable of completing an activity but require prompting, supervision, assistance or significant additional time due to cognitive, psychological, sensory, behavioural, neurological or fatigue-related difficulties. Our assessment considers capacity, performance, consistency and the level of support required to complete everyday activities safely and successfully.
Comprehensive assessment and reporting
A Functional Capacity Assessment may include clinical interview, in person observation of functional activities, assessment within the home and community, standardised assessment tools, review of relevant documentation and consultation with family members, carers and other treating professionals where appropriate. The report aims to include strong evidence from multiple sources to help create a solid case.
Let us help you get the most out of a FCA
At Maple Allied Health, we recognise that a diagnosis alone does not tell the full story. Drawing on the extensive OT experience, our role is to understand how a person’s disability affects their ability to live their everyday life and what can be done to support greater independence, participation, safety and quality of life.
If you require a comprehensive Functional Capacity Assessment, contact Maple Allied Health to discuss your assessment needs.
info@maplealliedhealth.com.au
