Experts who work with seniors often ask older people if they need assistance with their “ADLs” or IADLs especially when they are in an assisted living facility.
These refer to Activities of Daily Living as well as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. These are key tasks people must manage in order to live independently at home.
It can be helpful to know these terms and related skills if you are a family caregiver or working in an assisted living facility.
A person’s ability to perform ADLs or IADLs can often be correlated with the amount of supervision and care that they require. This will affect the cost of senior care in a facility and whether an older person is able to live at home.
ADL vs. IADL
Activities of Daily Living
These are the self-care basics that were taught to us as children. These are often referred to as “Basic Activities for Daily Living” (BADLs). These include:
- Walking is a way to move around your home and outside the house. This is technically called “ambulating”.
- Feeding is the act of putting food on one’s plate and into your mouth without assistance.
- Dressing as well as grooming. This includes choosing clothes, putting them on and managing one’s appearance.
- Toileting means to get to and from the bathroom, use it properly, and clean oneself.
- Bathing, refers to washing the face and body in the shower or bath.
- Transferring is the ability to move from one position to another. This can include being able move from one position to another, such as from a bed to a seat or a chair to another. It can also mean being able to get up from a chair or bed to grab a walker, or other assistive device.
Professionals at assisted living in Myrtle Beach usually provide information about how much assistance a person needs if they are not fully independent with ADLs.
People may need help with any ADL. This could be as simple as reminding them or being on “stand-by” to complete dependency that requires others to perform the task.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
These are self-care skills that teenagers learn. These tasks require higher levels of thinking and organizational skills. These include:
- Management of finances: Paying bills, managing assets and budgeting.
- Manage transportation either by driving or organizing other modes of transport.
- You can shop for groceries and prepare your meal. It covers all the necessary items to put a meal on the table. This also includes shopping for clothes and other essentials for daily living.
- Cleaning and maintaining your home. This includes cleaning up the kitchen after each meal, maintaining a tidy living area, and taking care of home maintenance.
- Management of communication such as telephone and mail.
- Management of medications includes obtaining and using medications as directed.
Why Are ADLs and IADLs Essential?
In order to live independently, an older adult must be able manage ADLs and IADLs.
As part of an assessment of an older person’s “function”, Geriatricians evaluate ADLs and IADLs. ADL and IADL problems are usually a sign of deterioration in physical and/or mental health. It is possible to diagnose and treat important health issues by identifying functional problems.
It is also essential to recognize functional problems because we want older adults to get the support and help they need to overcome or compensate for these problems. Family caregivers may also be able to provide assistance to a loved one who is in need.
Reflections Assisted Living can work with residents that have at least one of the six basic ADLs. Call us today to discuss your specific situation.
Reflections Assisted Living at Carolina Forest
219 Middleburg Dr
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0700
https://www.reflectionsassistedliving.com/
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