Seniors For Living

Brushing your teeth. Getting out of bed. Taking a shower. Yes, on days when you’re exhausted, it’s hard to muster up the energy to complete these basic life tasks. However, most of us don’t regularly experience pain, discomfort, confusion or other problems while carrying out these vital daily activities.

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News reports that, per the CDC, more adults are struggling with their ADLs (activities of daily living). It’s not just seniors in nursing homes either: the results of a 2011 National Health Interview Survey indicated “every age group had a higher percentage of people reporting ADL limits.”

When an individual has problems fulfilling at least one or more ADLs and IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living: i.e. laundry, shopping, housekeeping, managing finances, food preparation, transportation, medication administration, and using the telephone), many caregivers consider home care or assisted living care. According to the McKnight’s post, “ADL coding” is a pivotal issue both for senior living providers and families considering care, as it is the primary driver of “care planning and reimbursement rates.” In most assisted living communities, the monthly cost of care is determined by the hours of assistance required with ADLs and IADLs.

Learn more about ADLs and IADLs here.