Why the assessment matters
Home care that is arranged without a proper assessment tends to be imprecise — too much in some areas, not enough in others, and missing things that only become apparent once someone is actually in the home. Arcadia conducts a thorough assessment before building any care plan because the difference between support that works and support that does not usually comes down to how well the situation was understood at the outset.
The assessment is also the foundation for caregiver matching. Without a clear picture of the person — their history, personality, how their condition presents day to day, and what kind of presence they respond well to — matching is much harder to do well. The assessment makes it something more considered than that.
What the assessment covers
A member of Arcadia's team visits the home and works through the following areas with the person and any family members who are present:
Daily function and personal care needs
What the person can manage independently, what they need help with, and where the gaps between current function and current support are greatest.
Medical conditions and clinical considerations
Relevant diagnoses, current medications, any clinical parameters the care plan needs to work within, and the involvement of any existing care providers.
Home environment and safety
Layout, accessibility, fall hazards, lighting, bathroom safety, and anything in the physical environment that affects how care should be delivered.
Routines, preferences, and personal history
How the person has always done things, what matters to them, what they find difficult to accept help with, and the personal context that shapes how care should be provided.
Family support and caregiver situation
What family members are providing, how sustainable that is, and where the gaps are that private care would address — including caregiver relief needs.
Publicly funded care and existing services
What Ontario Health atHome provides, what other services are involved, and how private care fits alongside rather than duplicates what is already in place.
Who conducts the assessment
The assessment is conducted by a qualified member of Arcadia's clinical or care management team — not a sales representative. For clients with complex conditions such as dementia, acquired brain injury, or palliative illness, the assessment may involve additional clinical review before the care plan is finalized. For rehabilitation clients, our RSW Manager is involved in reviewing the assessment alongside the treating team.
What comes out of the assessment
The assessment produces four things that inform everything that follows:
1
A clear picture of what is actually needed
Not what was described over the phone, but what a trained assessor observes in the home — which is often both more and different from what families initially describe.
2
A draft care plan
The types of support recommended, the hours and schedule that reflect actual need, and how publicly funded and private care work together.
3
A caregiver matching brief
The specific profile of caregiver — skills, personality, language, experience — that the matching process will use to find the right person.
4
An honest conversation about fit
If the situation calls for something beyond what Arcadia provides — a nursing service, a different type of residential care — we say so at this stage rather than proceeding with an arrangement that will not serve the person well.
What the assessment is not
Families sometimes approach the assessment with some apprehension — worried it will feel like an inspection or lead to pressure to commit to a care package. A few things worth knowing:
The assessment is not a sales visit. The person conducting it is there to understand the situation, not to close a sale. If the assessment reveals that private care is not necessary or that another type of support would serve the person better, we say so.
The assessment does not commit anyone to anything. The care plan that comes out of it is a recommendation, not a contract. Families review it, ask questions, and decide whether and how to proceed.
The assessment is also not one-sided. It is as much an opportunity for the family and the person being assessed to ask questions, raise concerns, and understand what working with Arcadia actually involves as it is for Arcadia to gather information.
Common questions about the assessment
How long does the assessment take?
Usually between 60 and 90 minutes in the home. Complex situations — particularly those involving dementia, acquired brain injury, or palliative care — may require additional follow-up before the care plan is finalized.
Does the person receiving care need to be present?
Where possible, yes — the assessment is most useful when we can speak directly with the person, observe how they function in their own environment, and understand their perspective on their own situation. For cognitive or communication reasons, this is not always fully possible, and we adapt accordingly.
Can the assessment happen remotely if the family is not local?
The in-home visit requires a local contact — either the person being assessed or a family member or neighbour who can be present. Family members who are not local can participate by phone during the visit. We are experienced supporting families managing a situation from a distance.
Is there a cost for the assessment?
The initial care assessment is complimentary for families who proceed with Arcadia's services. We are happy to discuss this further when you call.
What happens after the assessment?
We present the care plan to the family, discuss it, and refine it based on your input. Once the plan is agreed, we move to caregiver matching — selecting the right person for the specific situation.
How Care Starts at Arcadia