What is the definition of impaired functional status?

• A. Inability to perform high-demand athletic tasks
• B. Inability to manage all finances independently
• C. Inability to perform activities necessary for routine self care
• D. Need for assistance with transportation

Answer: (C)

Functional status measures a person’s ability to perform self-care and live independently. Impaired functional status means difficulty or inability to carry out routine self-care activities, such as bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and transferring, so the person requires assistance. This is the description that matches the idea of needing help with daily self-care. In contrast, needing help with finances or transportation reflects instrumental activities of daily living, which are broader tasks supporting independence but aren’t the core definition of functional status. High-demand athletic tasks aren’t used to define functional status in this context.