Activities of Daily Living for the Elderly

Karen Henderson, an experienced elderly caregiver and public speaker on elderly care, explains that there are two classifications for activities of daily living: Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs, which are the necessary skills for living independently, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, or IADLs, which are the skills that are important for independent living but not necessary for the elderly to remain in their home alone.

Hygiene and Grooming

• Bathing, being able to dress and the ability to go to the restroom are all considered ADLs. These are necessary functions that an elderly person has to be able to perform alone in order to be independent. To help make these tasks easier for your aging loved ones, you can make home modifications. By adding hand rails to the toilet area and shower, placing nonslip flooring in their restroom and purchasing a shower chair for their tub give them the physical support necessary to groom independently. It's also a good idea to help them select clothing that has large buttons or Velcro fasteners to make dressing easier.

Eating and Drinking

• Walking on a daily basis is a good activity for all ages.

  Everyone needs to be able to eat and drink in order to keep their body nourished, which is why this also is considered an ADL. This ability is one that becomes particularly difficult for the very elderly, ages 85 and older. To encourage the hand-eye coordination that eating and drinking requires, talk to your loved one about participating in senior citizen exercise groups. The exercise instructors for senior citizens work on endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. By staying physically active, an elderly person maintains most of their motor skills.

Meal Preparation

• The effects of aging affect eye-sight and alertness, which is why cooking can be a potentially dangerous activity for an elderly person. Meal preparation and housekeeping are considered a part of the IADL group. If your loved ones aren't able to do this alone, they can still be considered independent. Home health care agencies are available to help with cleaning a senior's home, and organizations such as Meals on Wheels can provide precooked foods.

Life Management

• One of the hardest things for elderly persons to accept is their inability to manage their own money, drive, go shopping alone or remember to take their medication. These IADLs can be taken care of by a professional senior care organization, but these duties are often delegated to a trusted family member. When this becomes your responsibility, remember to consider how you would want to be treated. A good practice is to dedicate specific days of the week to help sort their medication, take them shopping and help them pay their bills.