RIPA

The Ross Information Processing Assessment (RIPA) is my favorite cognitive assessment.  There are two versions RIPA-2 which is for all adults and RIPA Geriatric for elderly persons.  I have primarily used the RIPA-2 for younger adults who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or cerebral vascular accident (CVA).  And, I have used the RIPA-G for older adults primarily in skilled nursing facilities (SNF) or assisted living facilities(ALF). 
This assessment is easy to perform and has clear scoring criteria.  The profile summary form is easy to fill out and to explain to the pt or pt's family.  The assessment is broken into 10 or 12 subtests (depending on the assessment) which allows for a clear understanding of deficits and areas that should be addressed in therapy.  These assessments should be used in conjunction with a medical and social history, as well as input from the pt, pt's family, and the medical team.