We often take daily routines for granted. But these actually help us maintain our personal hygiene, keep our environment safe, and exercise our physical and mental faculties. This is why our nursing team takes care to help seniors, infirmed, and disabled persons with ADLs and IADLs.
- The Activities of Daily Living or ADLs are a series of basic activities performed by individuals on a daily basis necessary for independent living at home or in the community. There are 5 basic categories.
- Personal hygiene – bathing, grooming, and oral care
- Dressing – the ability to make appropriate clothing decisions and physically dress oneself
- Eating – the ability to feed oneself, though not necessarily to prepare food
- Maintaining continence – both the mental and physical ability to use a restroom
- Transferring – moving oneself from seated to standing and get in and out of bed
Whether or not an individual is capable of performing these activities on their own or if they rely on a caregiver to perform the ADLs serves as a comparative measure of their independence.
- The Instrumental Activities of Daily Living or IADLs are actions that are important to being able to live independently but are not necessarily required activities on a daily basis. The IADLs can help determine with greater detail the level of assistance required by the client. The IADLs include:
- Basic communication skills – such as using a regular or mobile phone, email or the Internet
- Transportation – either by driving oneself, arranging rides or the ability to use public transportation
- Meal preparation – meal planning, preparation, storage, and the ability to safely use kitchen equipment
- Shopping – the ability to make appropriate food and clothing purchase decisions
- Housework – doing laundry, cleaning dishes, and maintaining a hygienic place of residence
- Managing Medications – taking accurate dosages at the appropriate times, managing re-fills, and avoiding medication incidents
- Managing personal finances – operating within a budget, writing checks, paying bills, and avoiding scams
Our care team offers the utmost respect, dedication, and compassion in helping our clients perform these activities with ease and convenience. With us by your side, you are never far from the assistance you need.
Would You Like to Learn More?
We are eager to address your inquiries about our services. Please schedule an assessment or call 240-393-3625 to learn more.