How do I understand what a person really needs to function?

You can run through an assessment, tick the boxes, ask the questions. But seeing what someone truly needs to live their life, that deeper read still slips past you. That is the real art of this work, and it takes longer to learn than the procedure. The forms tell you what is measurable. The person tells you what matters, but usually not in words. It comes out in what they mention twice, what they avoid, what lights them up when they talk about it. Understanding needs is mostly a matter of listening past the questionnaire. Next assessment, leave one open question at the end: what would make the biggest difference in your day? Then be quiet and really hear the answer. The procedure gives you data. The person, if you let them, gives you the truth. Your job is to make room for it.