Levels of Assistance Table
Note: The following are ‘traditional’ values for levels of assistance in percentages. This shouldn’t be a problem if you are say, working in acute care. However, in settings such as acute rehab (ARU), as the FIM was phased out and replaced by the CARE Tool/Section GG, the language and percentages were simplified to basically less than or more than half the effort (50%). See this article for a brief explanation and this article for detailed section GG definitions.
|
Term |
Abbreviation |
Effort OT Provides |
Effort Patient Provides |
Notes |
|
Independent |
“I” |
0% |
100% |
Therapist does not need to be in the room. |
|
Supervised |
“S” |
0% |
100% |
e.g. OT within the room of the client. |
|
Standby Assist |
“SBA” |
0% |
100% |
Standing next to the client, but no client contact. |
|
Contact Guard Assist |
“CGA” |
0% |
100% |
“Hover hands”, maintains contact |
|
Minimal Assistance |
“Min A” |
1-25% |
75-99% |
Sometimes referred to as “partial assistance” |
|
Moderate Assistance |
“Mod A” |
26-50% |
50-74% |
OT and client each put in about half of the effort |
|
Maximal Assistance |
“Max A” |
51-75% |
25-49% |
Consider having a “spotter” standing by. |
|
Total Assistance (Dependent) |
“D” “Total A” |
76-100% |
0-24% |
More risk for injury of OT due to high physical demand, consider additional assistance and not performing yourself. |
|
2 Person Assistance 3 Person Assistance |
“x2” “x3” |
Varies |
Varies |
x2 means 2 assistants, x3 means 3 assistants. |
|
Mechanical Lift |
– |
0% |
0% |
Therapists help to setup and operate the lift. Clients are dependent. |
