Observer-rated functional assessments for institutionalized elders

A content analysis was conducted of 320 units of observational data generated on 40 randomly selected institutionalized and uncommunicative elders over a 5-day (220-hour) period. When existing observer-rated instruments were compared with observational data, using a six-dimensional theoretical framework, gaps in the existing instruments became apparent. Future research and development of functional assessments should include observer-rated criteria for health and well-being for the affective dimension of functioning and criteria for determining mental judgment in uncommunicative elders.