As people age, being able to take proper care of themselves without assistance is a big source of pride for many folks. As we age, our bodies can’t function as they used to. Knowing when additional help is required can also be difficult. This is when Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) come in.
Senior living communities provide ADLs and IADLs to seniors. So, what do services have in common, and what’s the difference between these two terms? Let’s find it out.
ADLs are routine tasks most people can perform daily without any third-party assistance. Some of the most common activities include dressing, eating, showering, toileting, transferring, etc.
IADLs are more complex tasks that are often built on basic ADLs. Some of the most common IADLs include managing finances, managing transportation, shopping, cooking, communication, managing medications, etc. These are not essential living functions, though they are the keys to letting individuals live independently.
The difficulty of managing daily living activities is one of the common signs that an individual faces health problems. A person’s inability to perform two or three activities in a functional assessment signifies that one should benefit from outside help. That’s when ADLs and IADLs should be considered. It can take you some time to decide whether those are ADLs and IADLs that should be considered.
