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Independent Activities of Daily Living Assessment

It is important to determine the level of functioning at which a person can perform daily activities, especially when considering the health of older adults and their ability to live alone. An assessment of the independent activities involved in daily living will determine how well a person can function in different categories, and will conclude at what level important daily tasks can be accomplished, either independently or with minimal help.

  1. Personal Care

    • One section of independent activities assessment involves personal care. A person's ability to prepare meals for himself as well as eat those meals unassisted is important to evaluate. Personal hygiene is also assessed to see the level at which a person can perform tasks such as choosing clothes and getting dressed daily. Personal care also includes the person's ability to shower and bathe, trim nails, brush hair and teeth, and be neatly dressed and groomed.

    Housekeeping

    • An independent activities of daily living assessment will observe the level at which a person can perform housekeeping chores. This includes how well a person can do laundry, make a bed, wash dishes, clean floors and cabinets, as well as use a vacuum cleaner. The ability to use and maintain other household appliances such as a stove, microwave and oven is assessed, as well as the level of functioning a person has using a telephone. Using the telephone is especially important in case of emergencies.

    Traveling

    • Another independent activity of daily living that is assessed is a person's mode of transportation. It is important to know how, or if, a person is able to get herself to the places she needs to be. Does the person drive independently without help or supervision or does she take the initiative to arrange her own means of travel by calling a friend or family member? Is the person able to use buses or call a taxi? It is also important to assess how well a person can accomplish necessary errands such as trips to the grocery, bank, doctor and pharmacy.

    Other responsibilities

    • Other important responsibilities assessed along with independent activities of daily living involve managing medications and personal finances. A person's level of ability to independently take care of daily medications and make arrangements to get prescriptions filled on time is observed and assessed. The person's ability to manage personal finances is also evaluated. How well does a person handle his day-to-day purchases and bills, and how well does he manage his money overall?

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