interRAI assessments
The primary purpose of interRAI assessments is to accurately determine the characteristics of a person in order to fully understand their needs, ranging from clinical to social support and prepare a care plan. The information provided by interRAI assessment supports the decisions made by a healthcare professional.
Each assessment has items specific to the assessment, for example, palliative items for the Palliative Care assessment instrument, as well as a set of core items that are shared across assessments.
A person’s responses to the assessment and the outcome measures produced may be tracked over time and across a continuum of care.
The interRAI suite consists of over 20 assessment instruments covering different areas of healthcare. See www.interrai.org
Assessments currently used in New Zealand
Name of assessment | Description |
interRAI Contact Assessment (CA) | A basic screening assessment that provides clinical information to support decision making about the need and urgency for a comprehensive assessment, support and specialised rehabilitation services. It is used for continuing evaluation of those with non-complex needs living in the community at home. |
interRAI Community Health Assessment (CHA) | The Community Health assessment and its accompanying supplements is a modular approach to comprehensive clinical assessment. Everyone is assessed using the core assessment, then only those older adults with specific problem areas receive one or more of the additional assessments:
The Community Health assessment together with the functional supplement has all the same items and clinical outcome scales as the Home Care assessment. |
interRAI Home Care Assessment (HC) | A comprehensive clinical assessment that informs and guides the planning of care and services in community-based settings. It focuses on the person’s functioning and quality of life and helps support clinical decision-making when considering aged residential care. |
interRAI Palliative Care Assessment (PC) | A comprehensive assessment of the strengths, preferences and needs of community-based older adults where a palliative care focus is required. |
interRAI Long Term Care Facilities Assessment (LTCF) | A comprehensive assessment for evaluating the needs, strengths and preferences of those in aged residential care. The assessment enables a health care provider to assess key issues that will help with individualised care planning. |
- Visit www.interRAI.org for more about available assessments