Using the Allen Cognitive Levels to determine level of supervision needed for those with mild to moderate cognitive decline

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundA comparison was made of the common screening tools for Alzheimer’s disease (AD).MethodThe Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most commonly used screening tools but has an emphasis on verbal skills and because it is so widely used, some patients with minimal cognitive decline are able to remember many of the answers from one assessment to the next. The benefits of using the Allen Cognitive Levels (ACL) became apparent as it is a functional based assessment and can be administered without the patient having to say anything.ResultUsing the Allen Cognitive Level screening tool as well as the ACL task activities to narrow a patients level to a number between 0‐6 to the nearest .2 of a point. For example, if a patient scores between 4.6‐4.8, it is recommended that the patient may live alone in the community, provided they have a safe environment with well‐established routines and rehearsed safety plans including daily and weekly supervision. Specific recommendations are available to educate family on safety equipment needs, and executive functioning strategies. For example in the 4.6‐4.8 level, verbal skills are often stronger than a patient’s ability to complete novel tasks, something that is not as easily picked up on a verbal or memory related screener.ConclusionThe Allen Cognitive Level screener and task analysis kits are very helpful for healthcare providers including doctors or therapists to obtain specific information about a clients current cognitive level and what can be expected and how to modify the environment for the client safety and greatest level of independence. Because the levels are structured sequentially, caregivers can compare the current cognitive level to the subsequent level in order to know what to watch out for in the future and clinicians can complete the lacing screener or the task activities as the disease progresses to provide the most accurate information about a clients current cognitive level.