The medical field is filled with acronyms and terms that are used frequently among professionals in the field, but can often come across as a different language to those without professional training. With respect to health care for older adults, two acronyms you will often hear are IADLs and ADLs–Instrumental Activities of Daily Living and Activities of Daily Living, respectively. Read on to learn the difference between the two terms and why their difference matters.

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INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING – IADLS

We like to explain IADLs as “hands-off” care–the type of activities that someone can do for another person without physical contact. Examples of IADLs include:

• Errands – grocery shopping
• Transportation – to appointments, community center, concerts, etc
• Light housekeeping
• Meal preparation
• Managing finances, such as paying bills and managing financial assets
• Managing transportation, either via driving or by organizing other means of transport
• Managing communication, such as the telephone and mail
• Managing medications, which covers obtaining medications and taking them as directed

IADLs may have to be managed by different service providers. Finances, for example, could be handled by an accounting firm, financial management professional or daily money management professional such as Paper Tigress Personal Finance Care. Many IADLs can be handled by a Certified Nursing Assistant, but some may need to be done by a Registered Nurse.

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ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING – ADLS

Now we turn to the “hands-on” care, the ADLs. These are the activities that would require personal contact should someone be assisting with them. They’re those activities we do every day and when we’re capable of doing them, we don’t give them much thought..

• Personal hygiene – bathing/showering, grooming, nail care, and oral care, Catheter/Ostomy care
• Dressing – the ability to make appropriate clothing decisions and physically dress/undress oneself
• Eating – the ability to feed oneself, though not necessarily the capability to prepare food
• Maintaining continence – both the mental and physical capacity to use a restroom, including the ability to get on and off the toilet and cleaning oneself
• Transferring/Mobility- moving oneself from seated to standing, getting in and out of bed, and the ability to walk independently from one location to another

As people age, it is normal to become slower at performing ADLs. Certain health issues such as a stroke or a fall can significantly affect a person’s ability to perform these activities.

WHY DOES THE DIFFERENCE MATTER?

Knowing the difference between IADLs and ADLs helps you understand the reasons behind your loved one’s care plan. Medical professionals will use assessments of IADLs and ADLs to create a care plan and assign the appropriate level of health care worker needed to best care for your loved one.

Secondly, insurance companies care! Insurance companies are very specific regarding what they do and do not cover. For instance, Medicare only covers home care if you have a skilled medical need (something only an RN or Physical Therapist can provide) and will only allow for ADL care to be provided by a Home Health Aide if there is a skilled need present in the home. IADL is not covered at all under Medicare. Most long term care insurance policies require you to need assistance with at least 2 ADLs for benefits to be paid out. The need for assistance with only IADLs will not trigger the benefits of a long term care policy.

I hope this post has helped you understand the difference between IADLs, ADLs so that you can be an active and educated participant in your care or that of your loved one. For more reading on this topic, check out the additional resources below.

For assistance with any level of care, we’d love to talk with you! Our one-stop-shop agency makes it easy to get the quality of care you want no matter the level of care you need.

Additional Reading:

ADLs and IADLs: Complete Guide To Activities of Daily Living
Activities of Daily Living
Activities & Instrumental Activities of Daily Living – Definitions, Importance and Assessments
Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Living