Which is the final step in the RAI utilization process?

• A. Assessment
• B. Decision-making
• C. Care planning
• D. Evaluation

Answer: (D)

Evaluation is the final step because it closes the cycle by measuring outcomes after the care plan has been implemented. Once data are gathered (assessment), decisions are made about goals and interventions (decision-making), and those plans are put into action (care planning), evaluation checks whether the resident’s actual outcomes match the intended goals. It looks at changes in status, response to interventions, and overall quality indicators to determine if the plan was effective. If outcomes aren’t met, evaluation triggers revisiting the assessment and adjusting the care plan or interventions, fueling ongoing improvement. In geriatrics, this means reviewing nutrition-related results such as weight trends, appetite and intake, hydration, and functional status to decide if changes to the nutrition plan are needed.