The reassessment is an opportunity

A reassessment is not a test you can fail. It is an opportunity for the CLSC to understand your situation as it is today — not as it was when the original assessment was done.

The more clearly you communicate what has changed, the better the outcome is likely to be. Preparation is the most important thing you can do.

One to two weeks before

Keep a record of daily observations

In the week or two before the reassessment, write down what you observe each day. Note tasks that required help, close calls, anything that seems unsafe. You do not need to do this for years in advance — even a one-week snapshot provides useful information.

Gather your documents

Collect any relevant documentation:

• Current medication list
• Recent hospital discharge summaries
• Letters or notes from physicians or specialists
• Falls record, if you have been keeping one
• Any prior OT or PT reports

List the specific changes since the last assessment

Make a written list of what is different now compared to when care was last assessed. Be specific: "She can no longer get into the bathtub at all" is more useful than "she's gotten worse at bathing."

Think through each area:

• Bathing and personal hygiene
• Dressing
• Meal preparation
• Medications
• Mobility inside and outside the home
• Memory and orientation
• Safety and judgment

The day before

Confirm the appointment and who will attend

Make sure the CLSC has the correct address and the appointment is confirmed. If a family member or the person's physician is planning to attend, confirm with them as well.

Prepare your talking points

Write a brief summary — even just point form — of the key changes you want to communicate. You do not need to memorize it. Having notes in front of you during the visit is entirely appropriate.

Think about what you want from the reassessment

What specific services do you hope the new care plan will include? Being clear about what you're asking for — more hours of personal care, nursing visits, physiotherapy — helps focus the conversation.

During the reassessment

Include the person receiving care in the conversation

The assessor will direct many questions to the person being assessed. Encourage them to answer honestly and to describe their experience, not what they think the assessor wants to hear.

Do not downplay difficulties

This is one of the most common mistakes. The natural human instinct is to say "I manage" or "I'm fine." For the purposes of a CLSC assessment, describe the worst days, not the best ones. If someone can sometimes manage to dress themselves but regularly cannot, say so.

Speak concretely about your situation as a caregiver

Describe your own situation honestly: how many hours you are providing, how this has changed, and whether it is sustainable. The assessor should understand the full informal support picture.

Ask questions

See the "Questions to ask" article for a list of good questions to raise during the visit.

After the reassessment

• Ask when you will receive the updated care plan
• Ask the assessor to explain any part of their evaluation you don't understand
• If you disagree with the outcome, ask about the formal review process