Pool Activity Level (PAL) Checklist

(ref: Pool, J. (2012) The Pool Activity Level (PAL) Instrument for Occupational Profiling. Jessica Kinglsey publishers, London)

Completing the Checklist

Thinking of the last 2 weeks, tick the statement that represents the person’s ability in each section.

If in doubt about which statement to select, choose the level of ability that represents their average performance over the last 2 weeks.

You must select one statement for each section.

Selections are totalled at the bottom of each column.

Key

P = Planned level of ability

E = Exploratory level of ability

S = Sensory level of ability

R = Reflex level of ability

 1. Bathing/Washing P E S R
  Can bathe/wash independently, sometimes with a little help to start.      
  Needs soap put on flannel and one step at a time directions to wash.      
  Mainly relies on others but will wipe own face and hands if encouraged.      
  Totally dependent and needs full assistance to wash or bathe.      
 2. Getting dressed        
  Plans what to wear, selects own clothing from the cupboards; dresses in correct order.      
  Needs help to plan what to wear but recognises items and how to wear them; needs help with order of dressing.      
  Needs help to plan and with order of dressing, but can carry out small activities if someone directs each step.      
  Totally dependent on someone to plan, sequence and complete dressing; may move limbs to assist.      
 3. Eating        
  Eats independently and using the correct cutlery.      
  Eats using a spoon and/or needs food to be cut up into small pieces.      
  Only uses fingers to eat food.      
  Relies on others to be fed.      
 4. Contact with others        
  Initiates social contact and responds to the needs of others.      
  Aware of others and will seek interaction, but may be more concerned with own needs.      
  Aware of others but waits for others to make the first social contact.      
  May not show an awareness of the presence of others unless in direct physical contact.      
 5. Groupwork skills        
  Engages with others in a group activity, can take turns with the activity/tools.      
  Occasionally engages with others in a group, moving in and out of the group at a whim.      
  Aware of others in the group and will work alongside others although tends to focus on own activity.      
  Does not show awareness of others in the group unless close one-to-one attention is experienced.      
 6. Communication skills        
  Is aware of appropriate interaction, can chat coherently and is able to use complex language skills.      
  Body language may be inappropriate and may not always be coherent, but can use simple language skills.      
  Responses to verbal interaction may be mainly through body language; comprehension is limited.      
  Can only respond to direct physical contact from others through touch, eye contact or facial expression.      
 7. Practical activities (craft, domestic chores, gardening)        
  Can plan to carry out an activity, hold the goal in mind and work through a familiar sequence; may need help solving problems.      
  More interested in the making or doing than the end result, needs prompting to remember purpose, can get distracted.      
  Activities need to be broken down and presented one step at a time, multisensory stimulation can help hold the attention.      
  Unable to ‘do’ activities, but responds to the close contact of others and experiencing physical sensations.      
 8. Use of objects        
  Plans to use and looks for objects that are not visible; may struggle if objects are not in usual/familiar places (eg. toiletries in a bathroom cupboard).      
  Selects objects appropriately only if in view (eg. toiletries on a shelf next to the wash basin).      
  Randomly uses objects as chances upon them; may use appropriately.      
  May grip objects when placed in the hand but will not attempt to use them.      
 9. Looking at a newspaper/magazine        
  Comprehends and shows interest in the content, turns the pages and looks at headlines and pictures.      
  Turns the pages randomly, only attending to items pointed out by others.      
  Will hold and may feel the paper, but will not turn the pages unless directed and will not show interest the content.      
  May grip the paper if it is placed in the hand but may not be able to release the grip; or may not take hold of the paper.      
  Totals 

The Activity Level identified for this person is:

Please click here for the relevant Pool Activity (Level) PAL Guide to assist you to plan how you will help the person with their activities.

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