Understanding IADLs

IADLs, or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, are activities that go beyond basic needs. IADLs allow the person to be independent at home and in the community.  They include housework, meal preparation, taking medications, shopping, using the telephone and accessing transportation.

TIPS FOR ASSISTING WITH INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING

• If it’s your job to shop for clients, you will probably be asked to go to the grocery store and pharmacy most often.   When shopping duties involve going to several stores in a single trip, always do the food shopping last. For example, if you have to go to the grocery store,  pharmacy and the bank, go to the pharmacy and the bank first. That way you can go back to the house and put the food away as soon as you are done.
• If it’s your job to plan and prepare food for your clients, then start with a meal plan.  You may want to make a plan for one week, two weeks, or even for an entire month. 
• Work from cleanest to dirtiest!  You may have heard the that it’s always best to do the “worst first,” but in cleaning, that’s not always the case! For example, you should save cleaning the bathrooms for last. That way, you are not carrying fecal contaminated items like the broom, mop, sponges and yourself throughout the rest of the house!
• When doing laundry, check the labels. This will give you any specific instructions for washing the item. If it says “dry clean only,” take the item to the dry cleaners! Never attempt to wash an item that is dry clean only. It will ruin it!
• Sort. Give whites, lights and darks each their own pile. Separate towels from clothing. Keep sweaters separate and wash them on the delicate cycle.
• If you use your car to drive clients to appointments, shopping, church or other errands, keeping your client and yourself safe should be your top priority!  It is safe for elderly clients to sit in the front with airbags but it is recommended that the seat be pushed as far back as possible and slightly reclined.
• Every state has specific rules about what a caregiver can and can't do with a client's medications. 
  
  • Some states won't allow caregivers to even touch a medication, while others permit them to give insulin (in a rest home setting).  In most states, caregivers are allowed to monitor medications. 
  • If you are asked to assist clients with their medications, make sure you understand what that means.