Senior Care Connect is here to help educate you on senior related care issues, which includes understanding some of the confusing health care terminology you may hear being used. We demystified some of these terms in the first part of this series- See Part 1. In today's article we hope to clarify a few more terms.
ADL: An acronym for Activities of Daily Living, which refers to daily activities people tend to do without needing assistance. Such activities include bathing, dressing,toileting, brushing teeth, combing hair, eating/feeding,walking, amongst others. ADLs in general refer to the routine tasks conducted each day in attending to one's personal care. Within health care, you or your loved one may be asked questions in regards to the ability to compete such tasks, as a means to determine the level of care one may need.
IADL: An acronym for Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, which are more complex activities we engage in order to be able to live independently. Such activities include: banking/managing finances, shopping, transportation/driving, cleaning/ housework, preparing meals, as well as managing medications. Within health care, you or your loved one may be asked questions in regards to the ability to complete such tasks, as a means to determine the level of care one may need.
Respite: Refers to having a "break" or "rest" for a period of time, usually a shorter or definite period of time (i.e.. 1 week or 30 days). Within the scope of caring for seniors, respite can include various options. One may have a respite stay within a retirement home in which one may stay within the residence while recovering from an acute(short-term) illness, while one's primary caregiver(s) may be away or not be available, or to provide a caregiver relief from their caregiving duties for a period of time. Senior day programming can also be used as a means of respite, as it would allow one's primary caregiver(s) time away from caregiver responsibilities, while the individual attends the program during the day time hours.
Until next time.... Stay In The Know! Stay Informed!