So many new terms sneak into our language that, unless you’re “in the know” it’s difficult to keep track of what all these new terms and acronyms mean. This is especially true in the areas of new technology and aging care.

Two of the latest acronyms generating a buzz in the aging care industry are IADLs and ADLs. The National Center for Health Statistics defines IADLs as “Instrumental Activities of Daily Living” and ADLs as “Activities of Daily Living.”

What is IADL?
Put more simply, an IADL is any daily activity or task that is performed in the course of normal, everyday, independent living. It encompasses the duties we have performed so frequently all through our lives that we do them almost without thought. Keeping the home tidy by vacuuming and dusting, buying the groceries that are needed to prepare daily meals, opening and sorting the mail, paying the bills that come in that mail, making sure there’s money in the bank to cover those expenses, shopping for other necessities such as clothing and prescriptions, and even participating in social activities such as dining out and going to the theater.

What is ADL?
Now an ADL, as described above, is any daily activity not considered instrumental. Again, a simpler definition of an ADL is an activity that promotes personal care. Basically, Activities of Daily Living include such personal care tasks as bathing, brushing teeth, and shaving, and even such things as going to the toilet, putting on clothes, repositioning the body, and moving around, especially when physical conditions add to the difficulty of these tasks.

When we’re children, our parents or caregivers are the ones who see to it that these IADLs and ADLs are taken care of. Then, as healthy responsible adults, we take care of these daily living activities on our own. But as we begin to age, our ability to handle these seemingly simple tasks begins to decline. The vacuum cleaner that once was pulled effortlessly around the home begins to feel heavier and more cumbersome. The blank spaces on the checks are difficult to focus on. And getting in and out of the bathtub somehow starts to become a challenge.

Many aging people have spouses, other family members or a companion to whom they can turn for assistance with these daily tasks. But for one reason or another, at some point, those individuals are no longer able to offer this type of assistance. These elderly people need help, but they don’t need yet to be uprooted from their homes. And this is the type of scenario in which an In-Home Care provider can make all the difference. These businesses specialize in offering personal assistance to those who need a little extra help around the home.