Needs and needs assessment: their components and definitions with reference to dementia |
| |
| Authors: | Gregor McWalter MA MSc Hugh Toner MA DipCouns MSc CPsychol Alison Corser BSc MPhil CPsychol Jenny Eastwood MBChB DipSocMed FRCPsych Mary Marshall MA DSA DASS Tony Turvey BSc MAppSci CPsychol |
| |
| Affiliation: | Psychology Department, Fife Healthcare, Fife;Psychology Department, Tayside Health Board, Dundee;Department of Psychiatry, Fife Healthcare, Fife;Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling, Stirling |
| |
| Abstract: | The concept of need and the practice of needs assessment are both subject to a wide range of interpretations, to the likely detriment of individual assessments and to multidisciplinary working. Clear definition is important for individual assessment, for the development of multidisciplinary tools and in gathering planning information. The concept of need is clarified, firstly by distinguishing between need and the difficulties that engender it, and secondly through a taxonomy of need. These assist clear definitions of both need and needs assessment when linked with a consideration of the current help a person receives and a specification of the type of help required by a person to meet their needs. Such definitions have implications for the role of needs assessment in individual assessment, service evaluation, service management and planning and in the development of multidisciplinary needs assessment tools. |
| |
| Keywords: | dementia need needs assessment |
|
|
