Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are the more complex home management tasks that allow someone to maintain daily function and live independently. While they are not essential for basic survival, they are vital for quality of life.

Here are some common IADLs:

– Meal Preparation – Planning, cooking, and serving meals safely.
– Housekeeping – Cleaning, doing laundry, and maintaining the home environment.
– Managing Finances – Paying bills, budgeting, and keeping track of expenses.
– Transportation – Driving, using public transportation, or arranging rides to appointments.
– Medication Management – Taking the correct medications at the right times and refilling prescriptions as needed.
– Communication – While not included in the original Lawton-Brody IADL scale, modern assessments often consider the ability to use phones, email, or messaging tools essential for staying connected.
– Shopping – Acquiring groceries and household supplies regularly.

The Lawton-Brody IADL Scale is often used by clinicians to evaluate how well an individual manages these more advanced responsibilities.

The ability or inability to carry out ADLs and IADLs plays a significant role in determining how much support someone needs to live safely. These self-care tasks and independent living skills form the foundation of living independently. When a person starts to struggle with even a few, it can lead to safety risks, nutritional challenges, medication errors, and social isolation.

Assessing ADLs and IADLs helps families and professionals develop the right care plan. It becomes easier to pinpoint which services, equipment, or non-medical caregiving will be most beneficial.

At CARE Homecare, assessments are part of every personalized care plan. This approach ensures that help is tailored to each client’s abilities and preferences rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. For clarity on what Medicare covers, visit Medicare’s guide to home health services.

CARE Homecare offers flexible in-home assistance to support clients across a full range of basic daily activities and independent living skills. Personal care aides help with bathing, dressing, toileting, and other ADLs to keep clients comfortable and well cared for. Homemakers and companions step in to support IADLs like meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation to medical appointments.

Care plans are designed to match each person’s unique needs and updated as those needs change over time. Families receive regular updates, and care coordinators are always available to answer questions or adjust schedules.

In Los Angeles and Orange County, CARE Homecare clients have the reassurance of knowing experienced caregivers are ready to step in, whether the need is temporary recovery support or long-term assistance with everyday tasks.