The ability to do activities of daily living is one of the first things that long-term care insurance companies, home health care companies, adult daycare centers, and assisted-living facilities will ask about (ADLs). ADLs are general tasks that help determine if an adult can do the basics of personal care tasks on their own or if they could use some extra help. On the other hand, instrumental Activities of Daily Living are more complicated tasks that can help an older person live and work independently. They usually require more thought and organization skills.
Together, ADLs and IADLs make up the skills that most people need to be able to live by themselves successfully and safely. ADLs are simple tasks that a person must be able to do on their own if they want to live independently. In senior living communities, a person's level of independence with ADLs is based on whether or not they can do that task independently.
A person's ability to do the ADLs is often used to figure out what kind of care and living situation is best for an older person. ADLs can also help caregivers and health professionals figure out how much help a person needs. If your loved one can't do everyday activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), or if you have other safety concerns, it might be time to talk about increasing the level of care with them, or moving into a supportive living community.
Suppose your older adult is refusing help from others and their health or well-being is at risk. In that case, an experienced caregiver or a caseworker from the Area Agency on Aging may be able to help you solve the problem. They need to understand that you and your health need outside help. If an older person doesn't like meeting new people, it often helps to suggest that they start slowly by having just one person visit for a short time. If you do not live with the older person, see them at times that are not planned.
If a person can no longer stay where they are, it is helpful to evaluate them and get them the help they need. One might want to move to a place where they can still live in their own home but get help with things like cleaning and cooking. Seniors can stay more independent and enjoy living with others while getting the support they need in assisted living communities.
There are many things that older people can do on their own, with friends and family, or with a caregiver, whether they live alone, in an assisted living community, or a skilled nursing facility. Even though getting older can make it hard to live on your own, little things like in-home health care and home-delivered meals can help seniors stay independent at home.
Caregivers can give seniors the tools and resources they need to remain independent. For example, they can help them make their homes safer so they don't fall and show them how to use digital devices so they can stay in touch with family. Helping your loved one brush their teeth or take a bath can help them keep the independence they need to live a happy life.
Any physical activity makes it easier for seniors to live on their own. Seniors can stay active and improve their health and physical fitness by doing a little bit of each type of activity. Seniors who can stay active every day may benefit from exercise and other things. Exercise is the best thing for seniors to do to keep their mobility, even if it's just so they can move around their homes or get in and out of their cars to go to doctors' appointments, see their families, or visit friends.
Seniors can stay independent as they age and get enough healthy exercise. Seniors can keep their skills up and feel better about themselves if they keep doing as many activities and tasks on their own as possible. Being able to live on their own gives seniors a sense of independence and reinforces the idea that, even if their health or finances make it hard for them to do some things they used to be able to do, they still have control over many parts of their lives. Some older people's health can improve when they can live on their own.
Living arrangements are a big part of a person's quality of life, especially for older adults with dementia. Studies have shown that older adults who live at home are more independent than those who live in an institution. With the right help packages, your loved one can be as independent as possible while still getting the care they need. Caregivers should take the time to figure out what their loved ones need and help them stay independent as they get older. If you want to learn more about how in-home care could help your loved one remain as independent as they age safely, please don't hesitate to contact The Good Care Group for a research discussion.
If you notice that your loved one has trouble with basic daily tasks, this could tell you that it's time to make a significant change in how they are cared for. When an older person starts to need help with everyday tasks, we want to help in any way we can.
Provide a way to help your loved ones live an independent life while staying notified about their health and safety. Get your KAREWatch™ MG Medical Alert Smartwatch today at KAREWatch.com, or call us at 855 932.KARE to start safeguarding your loved ones.
New to medical alert systems? Reach out to us and learn more at help.KAREWatch.com.
Cited Sources
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