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ADL Tools

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are an important component in determining the level of care needed during a nursing home stay. ADLs are the necessary activities many of us take for granted, such as feeding and bathing ourselves, keeping our homes clean, cooking and generally doing the things needed to get through each day. It is critical that nursing home and medical facilities use tools that measure and track ADLs in their care and treatment of the physically and mentally challenged.

  1. ADL Tracking Tools

    • The nursing and care staff of a person with ADL issues sometimes change from day to day due to shift changes and scheduling. Ensuring that all parties involved in the patient's well being are aware of the latest status and potential areas of concern is critical to proper care. These tracking and ongoing assessment tools can either be included in a chart of the patient's history for easy reference, or posted on or near the patient's door. The particular ADL of concern should be clearly marked with ink, making it easy to ascertain the very latest status.

    Checklists

    • Caregivers must closely monitor each nursing home resident or patient to recognize the sometimes subtle deterioration of ADLs. Checklists and flow charts can be used to quickly and easily monitor potential problem areas. Many of these ADL tools include graded measures instead of simple "yes" or "no" checklists. For example, if a resident has difficulty tying his shoes but can still do the task with difficulty, the situation is noted so additional patient monitoring can occur.

    Evaluations

    • ADL tools to assist in completing comprehensive evaluations are available. These help to ensure that all areas of potential concern are accounted for. When completed properly, evaluation tools serve as the basis for decisions on proper care and treatment of the patient. Some evaluation tools help caregivers comply with regulatory guidelines as well.

    Articles, Seminars and Webcasts

    • If you are interested in ADL tools that provide some background and information in addition to checklists and such, there is a wide selection of articles available online. In addition, many providers of ADL tools and information host seminars, webcasts and even ADL boot camps. If scheduling or location are a hindrance to attending an onsite discussion, and you are unable to attend a webcast, participating in an audio broadcast is another alternative.

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