If you have noticed a change in your elderly loved one’s day-to-day abilities, this most often relates to how they are able to accomplish Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). When it comes to determining if your loved one can benefit from additional help or transitioning to senior living, an Activities of Daily Living assessment can give you all the insights you need.
What Are ADLs?
There are six aspects of ADLs, including:
- Dressing
- Bathing
- Eating
- Mobility
- Toileting
- Continence
Keep in mind that individuals may not necessarily have the same functional ability across all six areas. Your loved one can be completely independent in one aspect and require a moderate level of assistance in another.
Warning Signs that Your Loved One Needs Help
If you don’t see your loved one every day, you may be struggling to identify when they need help. Often, it’s about the patterns of behavior that can be observed over time, such as seeing your loved one in the same set of clothes day after day. For instance, it can be difficult for individuals struggling with mobility issues to button their shirts or tie their shoelaces. Fear of falling can result in showering or bathing less often, leading to personal hygiene issues.
Keep in mind that your loved ones may hesitate to tell you about the difficulties they experience as they want to maintain their independence for as long as possible. In some cases, making some simple modifications to the home can go a long way, such as installing anti-slip mats in baths and showers and swapping out shoelaces for Velcro straps. In other cases, long-term care arrangements will need to be made.
Getting an Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Assessment
You may decide that it’s time to engage home care or consider a senior living community when your loved one is struggling with activities of daily living. However, in order to tap into certain financial sources and get a better understanding of your loved one’s needs, they will need to undergo an Activities of Daily Living assessment conducted by a professional. This can be carried out by staff members of a senior living community, a nurse, or a social worker.
While you may be able to carry out a preliminary DIY assessment of your own, this may not be sufficient, especially if you do not have the necessary knowledge and experience when it comes to senior care.
Experience Senior Assisted Living at Morada Quintessence
If you or an elderly loved one requires assistance with activities of daily living, consider making the move to Morada Quintessence today. Our senior assisted living lifestyle option provides you with a range of amenities and services you need to live life to the fullest, including assistance with medication management, ambulatory transfers, 24-hour care, and more. Each of our senior living apartments comes equipped with senior-focused fixtures and an emergency call system. You can check out our floorplans here and feel free to schedule a tour of our modern community today.
