CODE 1    Unable to do or always needs help/supervision in this life area
Is used when the person is unable to do or always needs help or supervision in this life area.

CODE 2    Sometimes needs help/supervision in this life area
Is used when the person sometimes needs assistance in this life area.

CODE 3   Does not need help/supervision but uses aids or equipment
Is used when the person does not need assistance in this life area but uses aids or equipment.

CODE 4   Does not need help/supervision and does not use aids or equipment
Is used when the person does not need help or supervision in this life area and does not use aids or equipment.

CODE 5   Not applicable
Is used only when the need for support or assistance is due to the person's age, not their disability.

For the purposes of this collection use this code only when the person is in the following age ranges:

• Learning, applying knowledge and general tasks and demands: less than 5 years
• Education: less than 5 years
• Community (civic) and economic life: less than 5 years
• Domestic life: less than 15 years
• Working: less than 15 years

This metadata item contributes to the definition of the concept 'Disability' and gives an indication of the experience of disability for a person.

In the context of health, an activity is the execution of a task or action by an individual. Activity limitations are difficulties an individual may have in executing an activity.

Activity limitation varies with the environment and is assessed in relation to a particular environment; the absence or presence of assistance, including aids and equipment, is an aspect of the environment.

This value domain records the level of a person's need for help or supervision, in a specified domain, in their overall life. This means that the need for assistance may not be directly relevant to the health or community care service being provided.

Where a life area includes a range of examples, (e.g. domestic life includes cooking, cleaning and shopping), if a person requires assistance in any of the areas then the highest level of assistance should be recorded.

Where need for assistance varies markedly over time (e.g. episodic psychiatric conditions) record the average level of assistance needed.

Interpreters for language are considered to provide personal assistance, and are not considered aids and/or equipment.

Animals used for personal mobility (i.e. guide dogs and companion animals) are considered to be aids and/or equipment. Also included in this category are prosthetic and orthotic devices, wheelchairs, transfer devices etc.

Activity is limited when an individual, in the context of a health condition, either has need for assistance in performing an activity in an expected manner, or cannot perform the activity at all.