Assessment Spotlight: How the REAL Helps Us Understand Everyday Function

At Forbes Care, our Occupational Therapists are all about understanding how people live, move, and participate in the real world — not just in theory, but in day-to-day life. That’s why we love using functional tools like the Roll Evaluation of Activities of Life (REAL) to support our clients.

The REAL is a standardised assessment designed to measure how independently someone performs everyday tasks — from personal hygiene and dressing to managing meals, mobility, and community access. It’s quick, easy to administer, and gives our therapists a clear, evidence-based picture of where support is needed (and where strengths already shine).

Why We Use the REAL

The REAL helps us go beyond surface-level observations to truly understand:

• How a person is functioning at home, school, work, or in the community
• Which tasks they complete independently, and which ones require support
• How to prioritise therapy goals based on what matters most to them
• What supports or services might be appropriate in an NDIS plan or Home Care Package

It’s suitable for both children and adults, and offers a structured way to capture meaningful information — especially helpful when writing reports for funding or service planning.

What We Love About It

• Simple and practical – It fits easily into a standard OT assessment session without feeling overwhelming for the client.
• Strengths-focused – The REAL doesn’t just highlight gaps — it also shows what’s going well, giving clients and families a more balanced view.
• Goal-aligned – It helps inform therapy goals that are person-centred and tied to real-life routines, not just clinical benchmarks.

Whether we’re helping a child build independence in morning routines or supporting an adult to navigate community tasks more safely, the REAL helps us tailor therapy to what really matters.

Supporting Your NDIS or Aged Care Plan

Assessments like the REAL are an important part of how we build effective, individualised therapy plans. They also provide strong clinical evidence to support:

• NDIS functional capacity reporting
• Goal-setting for Home Care Packages
• Equipment, therapy, or support recommendations
• Measuring progress over time

If you or someone you support is working toward greater independence and participation, we’d love to help. Reach out to our team to learn how an OT assessment like the REAL can support your goals.

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