 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
ADLs and IADLs
(3 minutes: 05 seconds)
 MP3 (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] For older adults, health is often measured in the terms of function and level
of dependency. Function is a person's ability to perform the necessary
activities to ensure well-being. Function is measured in terms of Activities of
Daily Living commonly called ADLs and and also Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
which are called IADLs.
ADLs
are activities related to daily personal care. The ADLs include hygiene,
continence, dressing, eating, toileting, and transferring.
IADLs enable people
to live independently within their home and community. Examples of IADLs include
light housework, shopping for groceries, managing money, and taking medication.
The more functional active that a person can successfully maintain will likely
be associated with a greater sense of well-being. This is because function is
associated with independence. In other words, the more functional you are, the
less dependent you will be on others.
Many older adults who live independently can perform most or all ADLs and
IADLs sufficiently. However, over 80% of older adults who have limitations in
three or more areas of ADLs are also able to continue to live in their community
(United Way, 2007). To successfully maintain a degree of independence with
impaired function, an older adult must be able to rely on informal caregivers,
such as a family member or friend, or formal caregivers. This includes a home health
care worker or other type of paid caregiver. It is estimated that 50-60% of
older adults living outside of long term care housing receive assistance with
their ADLs (United Way, 2007).
If a person's safety is at risk due to functional
impairment, however, it may be time move the person into the home of a family
member or even a setting along the long-term care continuum, such as an assisted
living or skilled nursing facility.
The Aging in Place program from the
Cooperative Extension Service has more information about equipment or services
to help senior adults remain in their own homes, as well as information about
housing options. Every situation is different. Knowing what options are
available helps you make informed decision.
I'm Dr. LaVona Traywick. Thanks for listening to my "Thoughts on Aging".
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
Resource:
Purdue Extension; United Way, 2007
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