ADLs, or activities of daily living, are the tasks your elderly loved one must be able to do themselves to live independently. Many seniors have more trouble with these as they become less mobile, lose strength, or experience the effects of conditions such as dementia. You should assess their ability to conduct these everyday self-care tasks to determine the type of in-home care they need, if any.

The Basics of Activities of Daily Living

What They Are

The Katz Index of Independence in ADLs breaks down these essential tasks into six basic categories of skill. The first is bathing and showering, which includes maintaining their dental, nail, and hair hygiene. The second is continence, which is retaining control over their bladder and bowels.

The third is dressing, in choosing appropriate clothes and putting them on by themselves. The fourth is mobility, or the ability to move around the house independently, including getting in and out of beds or chairs. The fifth is feeding, which entails preparing food, getting the food into their mouth, chewing, and swallowing. The sixth is toileting, or getting on and off the toilet while self-cleaning.

Why They Are Important to Seniors

These six skills require both mental and physical capabilities, in which seniors tend to experience a decline over time. Once they cannot conduct any of these six activities, they need regular in-home care. If they do not continue with any one or more of these tasks, their mental and physical health will quickly decline.

The Signs It’s Time for In-Home Care

There are some warning signs that your loved one has lost the ability to manage one or more of their ADLs. When you visit their home, you may notice it seems neglected. There’s clutter, dirty dishes in the sink, mail building up in the mailbox, or dirty clothes everywhere. Their eating habits may have changed, resulting in sudden weight loss or gain. They may not be taking care of themselves: they don’t get dressed each day, their breath stinks, they have body odor, or there are sores on their skin. Seniors may stop doing things that were part of their regular routine, such as visiting with friends and neighbors, going to doctors’ appointments, or working on a hobby.

When your loved one needs assistance with their ADLs, A Hart of Pearls Healthcare is here to help in St. Louis, MO. Each of their home health aides is registered with the Family Safety Registry of Missouri and hold CPR licenses. They are prepared to handle all the assistance your loved one needs for their in-home care, from preparing meals to providing transportation. Learn more about their senior services online, and call (314) 942-7414 to discuss a custom care plan.