Acronyms and abbreviations are abundant in Aging Life Care. Whether you are an older adult or a family care partner, it’s helpful to become familiar with and understand these terms. In this article we look at two that are used frequently: ADLs and IADLs.
ADLS are the Activities of Daily Living, the basic self-care tasks we undertake to support our bodies and overall well-being.
- Eating
- Bathing
- Personal hygiene and grooming
- Dressing
- Transferring/Moving
- Toileting
Some individuals need help with ADLs short-term – an example would be during recovery from surgery. Others may need assistance long-term – living with a chronic health condition such as Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, or Parkinson’s generally requires support with ADLs as the condition progresses.
IADLs refer to the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, the more complex tasks necessary to support independent living, including:
- Housekeeping and home maintenance
- Meal planning, preparation, and clean up
- Money management
- Medication management
- Communication with others, including phone and other devices
- Transportation and navigation
- Shopping
- Pet care
- Emergency response to alerts such as smoke alarms, weather warnings
While both represent key life skills needed to live fully independent at home, IADLs support more than the basic physical needs provided by ADLs. IADLs require higher levels of cognitive functioning.
Your living environment and its location matter too. Sometimes home modifications can support one’s ability to navigate and manage ADLs and IADLs.
Often, IADLs are the first activities that an individual may ask for help with.
Some common scenarios we see in our Aging Life Care practice include:
- Mail unopened and piling up, including unpaid utility notices. Or the utilities have been turned off.
- A call to an adult child from a parent’s financial advisor concerned about large withdrawals.
- Burnt food in pans on the stove or in the oven. A bare refrigerator, or a refrigerator filled with expired, moldy, or rotten food. Can’t recall when they last went grocery shopping. Piles of dirty dishes in the sink.
- Laundry is unwashed. Your loved one is wearing the same clothes day after day and they are stained, mismatched, carry an odor, or they’re inappropriate for the weather.
- Garbage cans filled to overflowing but not being emptied or taken out on trash day. The lawn is uncharacteristically unkempt, and your parent’s once abundant flower and vegetable gardens are overflowing with weeds.
- Inability to manage medications as evidenced by bottles and pills strewn about the kitchen or bathroom counter. Your parent is unable to tell you what the pills are for or how often they need to be taken. Poorly managed diabetes resulting in extreme fatigue, blurred vision, rapid weight loss, and frequent infections.
- Dents in the car and around the garage door frame that can’t be explained. Concerned calls from neighbors that your mom keeps locking herself out of the house or appears to have trouble navigating her car around the neighborhood.
IADLs are often the first tasks that people show difficulty managing or ask for help with when they realize they can’t do them on their own.
Many who need help with IADLs are able to do basic ADLs without an issue. However, if an older adult is having difficulty, it’s important that they be evaluated. An evaluation can help determine how serious the issue is and will help identify the underlying cause/s of ADLs and IADLs difficulty.
Decline in ability to perform IADLs is often the first sign of some type of health or medical issue. A healthcare professional can help evaluate the underlying cause.
How can an Aging Life Care Professional (AKA geriatric Care Manager) help?
ADLs and IADLs are critical for assessing an older adult’s functional independence, safety, and health status, especially as cognitive or physical decline occurs. They serve as early indicators of illness, help determine necessary care levels, and influence eligibility for senior assistance programs.
When you engage Aging Wisdom for care management services, we begin with a comprehensive, objective assessment.
The assessment is conducted in-home to evaluate the client’s physical, emotional, and environmental needs. We then create a tailored care plan that serves as a road map for recommended services and supports.
We anticipate and plan for future needs as well.
Key Components of an Aging Life Care Assessment
- Health & Functional Status: Review of medical history, medications, and physical ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
- Home Safety & Assessment: A walkthrough of the home to identify fall hazards, safety concerns, and potential improvements for aging in place.
- Cognitive & Psychological Health: Screen for depression, anxiety, memory loss, and mental health issues.
- Social & Family Dynamics: Assess the existing caregiving system, family involvement, and social support needs.
- Legal & Financial Review: Check for essential documents like wills, powers of attorney, and reviewing financial situations for care planning.
Concerned about ADLs and IADLs? Not sure where to start?
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