ARTICLE | INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
ARTICLE | INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
Key Takeaways
From managing finances to transportation and meal preparation, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) encompass the essential skills required for maintaining autonomy and quality of life. For most, behind every IADL is the guiding hand of a caregiver, who are often overlooked and forgotten.
Two-thirds of aging adults rely exclusively on family caregivers for assistance with daily living activities.
These informal care teams, made up of loved ones, friends, and family, are the bridge between clinical and non-clinical care, ensuring patients have what they need to safely age in place and access the social determinants of health.
Let’s dig into the critical role caregivers play in fostering independence and dignity for those struggling with independence and IADLs.
While BADLs are more commonly thought of when a patient relies on a loved one for care, before this more hands-on support is needed, many care recipients will need help with higher-level needs, for complex activities that can become complicated as cognitive declines occur. These are tasks that allow a patient to continue managing their own affairs, and key to independent living.
This type of support, or IADLs, include:
These tasks can become overwhelming to caregivers quickly, especially those who also work a full-time job or are part of the Sandwich Generation– raising their own children while also caring for aging parents. Balancing these realities can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and emotional fatigue.
Supporting these family care teams isn’t just about recognizing this instrumental support; it’s about promoting the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients alike. Without caregivers, patients needing assistance with these activities of daily living would struggle to stay healthy and productive. Family care teams play a crucial role in fostering independence and dignity.
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