If a patient is struggling to identify functional activities during assessment, what should you do?

The appropriate course of action when a patient is struggling to identify functional activities during assessment is to engage in a discussion about their symptoms prior to starting medications. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of the patient's context and difficulties, which can be essential in pinpointing the functional activities that are relevant to their daily life.

By discussing symptoms, the clinician can better assess how these issues impact the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living. This dialogue can reveal specific challenges the patient faces, which can then guide the therapist in finding suitable examples of functional tasks that the patient can relate to. Additionally, symptoms may provide insights into the nature of the functional impairments and lead to more targeted interventions.

Other approaches, such as reassessing without family involvement, only asking the patient for examples, or ignoring the issue altogether, do not promote a collaborative environment or address the underlying issues obstructing the patient’s ability to articulate their functional needs. Engaging the patient in a meaningful dialogue is crucial for effective assessment and intervention planning.