ADLs and IADLs are the terms that are used in the field of senior care. Although many people are familiar with these terminologies in caregiving agencies, Las Vegas Home Care professionals have found that many still need to become familiar with these terms.
The acronyms ADL and IADL stand for “activities of daily living” and “instrumental activities of daily living,” respectively. Simply knowing what these abbreviations stand for does not in and of itself describe the activities that they encompass.
Activities of Daily Living – ADLs
You may promptly think of recreational activities when you hear the word activity. Almost no one considers brushing their teeth or going to the bathroom an activity. However, when it comes to senior care, basic self-care tasks are the actions related to ADLs. Understanding what ADLs include can help you determine whether or not your senior loved one requires assistance, especially if they are living alone. If your loved one already has someone to help, these terms will be of great use when talking with caregivers and other elderly care providers from friends and family.
Activities of Daily Living Include:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Grooming
- Oral care
- Walking
- Transferring in and out of bed/chair
- Life-enriching activities
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living – IADLs
Compared to the ADLs, these activities are more difficult and need excellent organizing abilities. It is possible that senior’s struggle to manage their IADLs is the first clue that they require assistance. If you observe changes in your loved one’s house, such as piles of dirty clothing, missed pills, or food that has gone bad in the refrigerator, it’s a sign that they are having difficulty handling tasks on their own.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Include:
- Meal preparation
- Medication management
- Managing finances
- Shopping
- Pet care
- Cleaning and laundry
- Home maintenance
- Driving or managing other forms of transportation
- Using communication devices such as a phone
Developing a Care Plan for Your Loved Ones
Generally, seniors who live alone need to be able to manage the above ADLs and IADLs to live independently without any assistance. As staying and living independently is paramount, your loved one should not have to struggle with or be deprived of primary self-care. You understood your loved one’s limitations is the first and most important thing in developing a plan of action, also known as a care plan.
A care plan will allow you to determine the right type and level of help needed. If you are looking for senior care options for home care assistance, Home Care Las Vegas can help you in this concern by allowing you to customize a care plan for your loved one to help him or her with the activities they face challenges to accomplish. Consider reaching out to the experts to have your loved one get a healthy diet and fitness plan prepared to reach overall health goals, so your loved one can enjoy a high quality of life while ageing in place.