An older adult client is being evaluated for admission to an assisted living facility. During the health assessment, the nurse implements which technique to determine the client's ability to reside in this environment?

A. Alcohol or drug abuse screening may be important but does not directly assess functional ability. B. Medication side effects can impact functionality, but ADLs are a direct measure of independence. C. Assessing a client's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) is crucial for determining their functional status and whether they can live independently or need assistance. D. Long-term memory evaluation is less important than assessing the client's ability to perform daily tasks.