Appendix 114-F Assessment Instruments for Non-Medicaid Home and Community Based Services: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) | HCBS-5300-MANUAL
Georgia Division of Aging Services |
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Chapter: |
100 |
Effective Date: |
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Section Title: |
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) |
Reviewed or Updated in: |
MT 2020-01 |
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Section Number: |
Appendix 114-F |
Previous Update: |
Based on the Cognitive Impairment section of the Risk Assessment Tool (Section F) using the word recall and oral trail making tasks, or based on professional judgement, staff may complete the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Before using the MoCA, staff must complete webinar #26 entitled “Cognitive Status Assessment for Older Adults” on the Rosalynn Carter Institute website. Staff should have a printed copy of the MoCA available before administering the assessment. The time to administer the MoCA is approximately 10 minutes. The total possible score is 30 points; a score of 26 or above is considered normal.
The MoCA was created in 1996 by Ziad Nasreddine in Montreal, Quebec and was validated in the setting of mild cognitive impairment, and has subsequently been adopted in numerous other settings clinically. It assesses several cognitive domains: short-term memory recall, visuospatial abilities, executive functioning, language, orientation, and attention/concentration/working memory. A validation test by Nasreddine in 2005 showed that the MoCA was a promising tool for detecting Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Early Alzheimer’s disease. Because the MoCA assesses multiple cognitive domains, it may be a useful assessment tool for several neurological diseases that affect younger populations.
It is imperative that staff approach any consumer identified as having possible cognitive impairment with a capacity-based mindset – meaning that staff should recognize and emphasize remaining cognitive abilities.
Visuospatial / Executive Tasks
Part 1: Instruct the client as follows: “Please draw a line, going from a number to a letter in ascending order. Begin here (point to 1) and draw a line from 1 then to A then to 2. End here (point to E).” Allocate one point if the client draws the correct pattern (1-A-2-B-3-C-4-D-5-E) without any lines that cross. Select “Yes” or “No” from the dropdown to indicate whether the task was completed.
Part 2: Show the client the picture of the cube and ask the client to copy the picture. You can use the back of the assessment or another piece of paper. One point is allocated for a correctly executed drawing that includes all of the criteria below:
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Drawing must be three-dimensional
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All lines are drawn
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No lines are added
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Lines are relatively parallel and their length is similar (rectangular prisms are accepted)
Select “Yes” or “No” from the dropdown to indicate whether the task was completed.
Part 3: Give the client the following instructions: “Draw a clock. Put in all the numbers and set the time to ten past eleven.” Select “Yes” or “No” from the dropdown to indicate whether each component of the task was completed:
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Contour: the clock face must be a circle with only minor distortion
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Numbers: all clock numbers must be present with no additional numbers; numbers must be in the correct order and placed in the approximate quadrants on the clock face; Roman numerals are acceptable; numbers can be placed outside the circle contour
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Hands: there must be two hands jointly indicating the correct time; the hour hand must be clearly shorter than the minute hand; hands must be centered within the clock face with their junction close to the clock center.
Naming Task
Beginning on the left, point to each figure and say: “Tell me the name of this animal.” Select “Yes” or “No” from the dropdown to indicate whether the correct response was given.
Memory
Read the following instructions to the client. “This is a memory test. I am going to read to you a list of five words to remember. Listen carefully. When I finish, please tell me as many words as you can remember. It doesn’t matter in what order you say them.” [Read list of words below at the rate of 1 word per second. Client repeats them after the last word is read. Check each word the client recalls in the space below]. [Do a second trial even if the client recalls the word(s) on the first trial.] “I am going to read the same words a second time. Try to remember and tell me as many words as you can, including words you said the first time.” No points are given for Trials One and Two.
Attention
Forward Digit Span: Give the following instruction: “I am going to say some numbers and when I am through, repeat them to me exactly as I said them.” Read the five number sequence at a rate of one digit per second. Select “Yes” or “No” from the dropdown to indicate whether the task was completed.
Backward Digit Span: Give the following instruction: “Now I am going to say some more numbers, but when I am through you must repeat them to me in the backwards order.” Read the three number sequence at a rate of one digit per second. Select “Yes” or “No” from the dropdown to indicate whether the task was completed.
Vigilance: Give the following instruction: “I am going to read a sequence of letters. Every time I say the letter A, tap your hand once. If I say a different letter, do not tap your hand.” Read the list of letters at a rate of one per second. Give one point if there is zero to one error (an error is a tap on a wrong letter or a failure to tap on letter A). If there are more than one errors, give no points.
Serial 7 Subtraction: Give the following instruction: “Now I will ask you to count by subtracting seven from 100, and then, keep subtracting seven from your answer until I tell you to stop.” Give the instruction twice if necessary. This item is scored out of 3 points. Give 0 points for no correct subtractions, 1 point for one correct subtraction, 2 points for two to three correct subtractions, and 3 points if the client successfully makes four or five correct subtractions. Each subtraction is counted independently; that is, if the client responds with an incorrect number but continues to correctly subtract 7 from it, give a point for each correct subtraction.
Language
Sentence repetition: Give the following instructions: “I am going to read you a sentence. Repeat it after me, exactly as I say it [pause]: I only know that John is the one to help today.” Following the response, say: “Now I am going to read you another sentence. Repeat it after me, exactly as I say it [pause]: The cat always hid under the couch when dogs were in the room.” Check “Yes” or “No” for each sentence correctly repeated. Repetition must be exact.
Fluency: Give the following instructions: “Tell me as many words as you can think of that begin with a certain letter of alphabet that I will tell you in a moment. You can say any kind of word you want except for proper nouns (like Bob or Boston), numbers, or words that begin with the same sound but have a different suffix (for example, love, lover, loving). I will tell you to stop after one minute. Are you ready?” [Pause] Now, tell me as many words as you can think of that begin with the letter F [time for 60 seconds]. Stop.” Write the number of words that client generates. The system will automatically compute a score, with 11 being needed to award 1 point.
Abstraction
Ask the client to explain what pairs of words have in common, starting with the example: “Tell me how an orange and a banana are alike.” If the client answers in a concrete manner, then say only one additional time: “Tell me another way in which those items are alike.” If the subject does not give the appropriate response (fruit), say “Yes, and they are also both fruit.” Do not give any additional instructions or clarification. After the practice trial, say: “Now tell me how a train and a bicycle are alike.” Following the response, administer the second trial, saying; “Now tell me how a ruler and a watch are alike.” Do not give any additional instructions or prompts. Select “Yes” or “No” to indicate a correct response for each pair correctly answered. The following responses are acceptable:
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Train-bicycle: means of transportation, means of travelling, you take trips in both
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Ruler-watch: measuring instruments, used to measure
The following responses are not acceptable:
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Train-bicycle: they have wheels
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Ruler-watch: the have numbers
Delayed Recall
Give the following instruction: “I read some words to you earlier, which I asked you to remember. Tell me as many of those words as you can remember.” Select “Yes” or “No” for each word the client correctly remembers.
At this time, do not use the Category cue or the Multiple Choice cue.
Orientation
Give the following instruction to the client: “Tell me the date today.” If the client does not give a complete answer, then prompt accordingly by saying: “Tell me the [year, month, exact date, and day of the week].” Then say: “Now, tell me the name of the place and which city it is in.” Select “Yes” or “No” for whether each component of the question was answered correctly. The client must state the exact date and exact place.
Education
The system will add 1 point for an individual who has 12 years or fewer of formal education.
Scoring
The maximum possible score is 30 points (including the additional point for education). The interpretation of the client’s total score is as follows:
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26 and above: normal
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18-26: mild cognitive impairment
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10-17: moderate cognitive impairment
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Less than 10: severe cognitive impairment
It is recommended that the results from the MoCA be printed and given to the client and/or caregiver to take to his/her physician for further evaluation.