Understanding Independence Through ADLs and IADLs

As we age, we may need more help carrying out basic everyday tasks. Though it may begin with something small, such as being unable to carry the vacuum up and down stairs, our loved ones’ trouble with daily activities could progress into needing assistance grocery shopping, getting dressed or even eating.

We all want to be as independent as possible for as long as possible, but understanding ADLs and IADLs are important for determining if your friend or family member may need more help than an untrained caregiver can provide.

What are ADLs?

Consider all the actions you take every day just to function normally. What do you do to get ready for the day? Chances are you don’t realize how much movement and cognitive awareness you may take for granted until it becomes difficult to accomplish or remember to perform simple tasks. These basic tasks are your Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and they measure how well an individual can care for themselves. These simple self-care tasks may include:

• Walking
• Eating
• Using the restroom
• Dressing
• Grooming
• Bathing
• Moving from a sitting to standing position, and vice versa
• And more

When an adult struggles to complete these ADLs, their independence and function could be at significant risk without the assistance of a trained caregiving professional.

What are IADLs?

An aging loved one may demonstrate their need for assistance even if they can successfully perform self-care activities such as the ADLs. Some of the more complex activities required to maintain an independent lifestyle safely are known as Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). An aging adult’s inability to complete IADLs may slip past their friends and family unnoticed, so it’s important for loved ones to keep an eye out for signs of IADLs being forgotten or neglected. Common IADLs to pay attention to include:

• Paying bills and managing finances
• Taking and refilling medications
• Cleaning the house and performing home maintenance
• Shopping for necessities and groceries
• Using the computer and telephone
• Cooking
• Driving

If you notice your elderly loved one is struggling to safely or responsibly perform these activities, it may be time to enlist the help of a trained professional caregiver.

How Do These Concepts Contribute to an Accurate Assessment of Someone’s Ability to Live Independently?

There are many reasons a senior may struggle to accomplish basic ADLs or IADLs. If a person is living with arthritis or dementia, their mental and physical health could be the culprit behind neglected daily tasks. Having a professional assess your loved one’s capabilities at home could serve to identify unnoticed effects of health conditions and help determine if they are able to live alone without a caregiver. If ADLs and IADLs are not being accomplished to a certain standard, the assessor may recommend a caregiver, or a transition into an assisted living or other long-term care settings.

Rediscover Independence and Comfort at A. G. Rhodes Health & Rehab

We understand that you may need help in caring for your aging loved one. At A.G. Rhodes we want seniors to live as independently as possible, while still receiving the help and care they need to be comfortable and safe. At A.G. Rhodes Health & Rehab, our Atlanta-based team of compassionate and dedicated caregivers are ready to assist your loved one with daily activities ranging from bathing to shopping. If your aging loved one is struggling to accomplish everyday tasks, it may be time to consider long-term nursing care. Contact us online or call 877-918-6413 to learn more about our admissions process.

Emergency Preparedness at A.G. Rhodes

Recent severe weather events remind us how critical it is to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. At A.G. Rhodes, we have emergency response plans in place so that when severe weather or other emergencies threaten our area, we are prepared. 

We keep several days’ worth of food and supplies in our homes in case vendors can’t deliver, and each home has a backup generator in case of power outages. We also maintain close contact with local authorities and first responders to ensure that we have their support if a situation were to require their response.

To practice our preparedness, we hold regular exercises, including severe weather and disaster drills, so that we know how to respond to various emergency situations. While we can’t possibly predict every scenario, we have plans in place and we practice emergency procedures to mitigate the risks presented when events do occur.

We also encourage our employees to take measures to personally prepare themselves and their families for disasters and emergencies. We recognize that when our staff members are prepared, they can better meet the needs of our residents during a crisis or emergency.

Leading up to and during events that have a potential to significantly impact our area and our homes, we use our website, www.agrhodes.org, and social media sites (Facebook and Twitter) to let people know about how A.G. Rhodes is preparing for and responding to severe weather and other emergency situations.

We are entrusted to provide quality care and a safe environment for more than 1,100 seniors in our community each year, and our commitment includes being prepared for natural disasters or other emergencies.

September is National Preparedness Month

Our homes weathered the storm that came through metro Atlanta as a result of Hurricane Irma, and it served as an important reminder to be prepared for emergencies.

While the A.G. Rhodes homes have extra supplies and food in case of emergencies, as well as generators in case of power outages, we urge our staff, families and visitors that personal preparedness is critical. 

“The time to prepare is before an emergency strikes,” says Deke Cateau, Chief Operating Officer at A.G. Rhodes. “Hurricane Irma reminded us that anyone can be impacted by a disaster, and it’s imperative that we establish a preparedness plan for ourselves and our loved ones. Thankfully our homes made it through the storm with limited disruption, but that was due in large part because our employees prepared ahead of time so that they could focus on the safety and well-being of our residents.”

September is National Preparedness Month and we encourage everyone to get prepared for disasters and emergencies. For preparedness tips, visit www.Ready.gov. 

September 12, 2017