M1830 — Bathing
Response options, how to score it, and the error that most often sends the record back. Cited to Ch. 3, Item M1830.
Response options
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Able to bathe self in shower or tub independently |
| 1 | With the use of a device, able to bathe self in shower or tub independently |
| 2 | Able to bathe in shower or tub with intermittent assistance of another person |
| 3 | Able to participate in bathing self in shower or tub, but requires presence of another person throughout bathing |
| 4 | Unable to use shower or tub, but able to bathe self independently with or without devices at sink, in chair, or on commode |
| 5 | Unable to use shower or tub and needs assistance to bathe self in other settings |
| 6 | Unable to participate meaningfully in bathing; entirely bathed by another person |
How to score it
Select the response that BEST describes the patient's usual ability — the level of assistance typically needed, not the worst or best performance during the assessment period. Assess over the past 14 days (or since SOC if less than 14 days). A device used independently still counts as '1', not '0'.
The common error
Scoring the BEST performance instead of usual performance, inflating the patient's functional status. Also: conflating 'needs supervision' (response 3) with 'needs hands-on assistance' (response 5).
Source: OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual — Ch. 3, Item M1830. Verified 2026-04-26.
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