Care Needs Quiz: What Kind of Care Does Your Loved One Need?

Choosing the right care environment for an aging parent or loved one can feel overwhelming. This short quiz will help you determine what level of care is most appropriate based on your loved one’s current health, safety, and daily living needs. Takes 3 minutes. Select the answer that most accurately reflects your loved one’s ability.

Section 1: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

  1. Bathing or showering
    ☐ Independent
    ☐ Needs some assistance
    ☐ Needs full assistance

  2. Dressing
    ☐ Dresses self
    ☐ Needs occasional help with buttons/zippers
    ☐ Needs full help

  3. Toileting
    ☐ Uses toilet independently
    ☐ Needs reminders or light help
    ☐ Needs full assistance or uses incontinence products

  4. Mobility (getting out of bed/chair, walking)
    ☐ Walks independently
    ☐ Uses cane or walker
    ☐ Needs assistance or wheelchair-bound

  5. Meal preparation and eating
    ☐ Prepares and eats independently
    ☐ Needs help cooking but eats independently
    ☐ Needs help eating or has difficulty swallowing

Section 2: Cognitive Health

  1. Memory and orientation
    ☐ No issues with memory or confusion
    ☐ Occasional forgetfulness or confusion
    ☐ Regular confusion, gets lost, or forgets names/dates

  2. Medication management
    ☐ Manages medications independently
    ☐ Needs reminders
    ☐ Cannot manage medications without help

Section 3: Health & Safety

  1. Chronic conditions or medical supervision
    ☐ No chronic conditions or stable with little help
    ☐ One or more manageable conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
    ☐ Complex or unstable health requiring medical oversight

  2. Safety concerns (e.g., falls, leaving stove on, wandering)
    ☐ No safety concerns
    ☐ Minor concerns, manageable with check-ins
    ☐ Serious concerns; at risk without constant supervision

Section 4: Social and Emotional Needs

  1. Social interaction and engagement
    ☐ Active socially, has regular interaction
    ☐ Somewhat isolated, may benefit from more engagement
    ☐ Very isolated or withdrawn, doesn’t participate in activities

Quiz Results Logic & Recommendation Summary:

0–8 Points (Mostly “Independent” answers)

Suggested Option: Independent Living or In-Home Support with Occasional Help
Your loved one may do well at home with minor support, or in a senior living community that offers meals and social interaction but not daily care.

9–15 Points (Some help with ADLs or minor safety concerns)
Suggested Option: Assisted Living or Home Care
A facility or home-based caregiver that offers help with daily activities may be best to ensure safety, meals, medication reminders, and mobility support.

16–22 Points (Frequent confusion, ADL needs, safety risks)
Suggested Option: Memory Care or Advanced In-Home Support
Your loved one may need structured support in a memory care facility or dedicated dementia-trained caregivers at home.

 

23+ Points (Full assistance, medical conditions, constant care needs)
Suggested Option: Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or 24/7 Home Care
Your loved one requires comprehensive medical support. Skilled nursing or high-level in-home care can meet those needs safely.

No matter your result, the earlier you plan, the more options you have. Our Legacy Planning for Families course helps you understand:

  • The intricacies of the healthcare system to ensure you make informed decisions.

  • Setting up legal tools (complete a Living Will, Powers of Attorney, and Last Will and Testament) to protect your loved one and your finances.

 

Recommendation: Explore the Legacy Planning for Families course