Taking the Measure of Assessment

An introduction to a special journal issue (see abstracts of related articles) on using assessment to improve practice discusses the personal, practical, & political consequences of long-term-care assessment for older adults. On a personal level, assessment results often require that a person come to grips with a loss of, or decline in, functioning in one or more areas in which that person had previously been independent. On a practical level, assessment both determines eligibility to begin or continue services & justifies the need for other tests, treatments, or intervention procedures. On a political level, agencies & programs use assessment to help justify what they do as they compete for scarce public & private dollars. How comprehensive, functional, standardized, efficient, & culturally sensitive assessment can aid practitioners is considered. 6 References. M. Maguire