Functional Independence Measure (FIM)
What It Measures
The FIM measures burden of care — roughly how much time another person has to spend helping someone get through the basics of a day. That framing is what sets it apart from measures of what a person can do in principle.
Eighteen items are each rated on the same seven-level scale, from total assistance at 1 to complete independence at 7, giving a total from 18 to 126. Thirteen motor items cover eating, grooming, bathing, dressing, bowel and bladder management, transfers, walking or wheelchair use, and stairs. Five cognitive items cover comprehension, expression, social interaction, problem solving, and memory. Levels 1 through 5 describe degrees of help from another person; 6 and 7 mean no helper is needed.
Additional Notes
Licensing Notes: A license is required, and fees vary by type of use. UDSMR also requires that anyone rating patients with the FIM be trained and pass a mastery test at least every two years to remain a certified rater. Licenses are held by organisations, not individuals.
Learn More: Motor and cognitive scores are often reported separately (13–91 and 5–35) rather than as a total, because Rasch analysis found the two sets do not measure a single construct well.
