Is your loved one struggling to function independently? Let's talk about ADLs (Activities of Daily Living - ADLs)

Getting older is something we all have to deal with. As we get older, it's normal for things that used to be easy to do to become a little more difficult. Maybe you've noticed that your mom, dad, grandma, or grandpa has a little trouble getting out of bed, getting dressed, or even eating a meal on their own. This can be due not only to age, but also to an illness, accident, or disability. So, how do we determine exactly how much help someone like this needs? In this article, we'll talk about a method that doctors use to measure this condition.

What are ADL and IADL?

These may seem like a complicated set of words at first, but they are actually quite simple. ADL stands for ' Activities of Daily Living'. Simply put, ADLs are the basic things we need to do to live independently every day. To be precise, these are the basic skills we need to take care of our bodies and take care of ourselves. IADLs stand for 'Instrumental Activities of Daily Living' . These are a little more complex than ADLs. They are higher-level activities that are needed to live independently in society. To clearly understand the difference between the two, let's look at this table.

How do doctors measure this ability?

To determine exactly what level of independence a person has and what kind of help they need, doctors use several specific assessment methods. These measure the extent to which the person can perform the aforementioned ADL and IADL on their own using a scoring system. This can be used to assess whether the patient can live independently without harm. Various methods are used around the world for this. Some of them are:

• Katz Index: This is a simple checklist used to measure basic ADL abilities in adults.
• Lawton-Brody Scale: This mainly measures IADL, that is, the ability to perform complex activities.
• Barthel Index: This is used to measure the independence of patients , especially those who have experienced conditions such as stroke .
• Cleveland Scale: This is used to assess the level of independence of people with dementia or Alzheimer 's disease.

Based on the scores from these assessments, a clear picture can be obtained of how much help the person needs.

What are the benefits of knowing ADL level?

Assessing a person's ADL and IADL levels in this way has several benefits. 1. Developing an accurate care plan: Knowing this level allows doctors, physiotherapists, and family members to plan exactly what help the person needs. For example, someone with walking difficulties can be recommended exercises to reduce falls. 2. Ensuring safety: This assessment helps determine whether a person can live safely on their own or whether they need constant help. 3. Identifying the help needed: Sometimes the only help needed may be to cook meals, take medication occasionally, or handle money. In that case, a part-time caregiver can be hired to help with those tasks only. 4. Early detection of diseases: Most importantly, sometimes the gradual difficulty in performing these ADLs can be an early sign of a disease such as dementia . Therefore, regularly checking the ADL levels of the elderly and at-risk individuals can be of great help in early detection and initiation of treatment for such conditions.

What do you do if someone can't do the work alone?

If you find that someone in your family is having difficulty doing their daily tasks in this way, there are a few things you can do.

• Seek medical advice: The first and most important thing to do is to consult your family doctor or a nearby doctor. The doctor will conduct the necessary evaluations and explain to you what steps to take next.
• Make your home environment safer: As directed by your doctor, make changes to your home environment to make daily activities easier and safer. For example, you can install grab bars in the bathroom, lay down non-slip mats, and place necessary items near the bed.
• Getting help from a caregiver: Depending on the amount of help needed, you can get help from a part-time or full-time caregiver.
• Considering a care facility: If the home environment is challenging or constant care is needed, you may want to consider moving to a care facility that ensures a safe living environment.
• Seek professional help: Seek professional help to develop a care plan that will help maintain quality of life and monitor the condition.

Activities of daily living, ADL, IADL, elder care, independence, aging , dementia