In-Home Care: It’s clear that your dad needs help if he’s going to age at home.
While that much is obvious, you have no idea where to start. You need to learn the ins and outs of ADLs and IADLs when creating a care plan with in-home care that matches his needs.
What Are ADLs and IADLs?
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are tasks your dad needs to do for himself to survive. It includes activities like eating foods, using the toilet, and moving around. He needs to be able to get out of bed, shower, and get dressed. Sometimes, he’ll need in-home care services to complete these necessary tasks.
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are not as critical for survival, but they are necessary for safety and comfort. IADLs include being able to drive a car or arrange transportation services. They include paying bills and managing money, cooking a meal, doing the housework, and organizing prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
There are several lists of ADLs and IADLs online. Go over these lists with your parents to get input on what they can confidently do independently and what they feel is a bit harder to manage without help. You want to make sure they have help with the things they don’t feel confident doing on their own.
Using Daily Activities When Creating a Care Plan
Remember that ADLs and IADLs are good for guidance, but they’re not the only things to consider. You also have to weigh whether your parents are struggling for now but will improve as they heal from surgery or chronic illness or if it’s a permanent situation.
For example, your mom fell and fractured her wrist. While her wrist is in a cast, she cannot use her right hand. That makes it hard for her to carry a laundry basket to the laundry room. She can’t lift a pot from the oven. She has a hard time buttoning her shirts, tying her shoes, and pulling up her pants. She’ll need temporary care services.
Your dad’s been diagnosed with emphysema. He’s often winded and has a hard time with stamina. He can’t handle more strenuous household activities like changing his sheets, cleaning the shower, or running the vacuum. He needs someone to do these for him for the rest of his life.
In both cases, additional services may need to be removed and added. Make sure you consider how flexible a plan is when creating the list of services you want your parents to have.
You’ve created the right care plan for your dad. How do you get started? Call a local agency and ask to talk to an in-home care specialist. Go over prices and services and make the arrangements that match your dad’s needs.
For more information about hiring In-Home Care in San Diego, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Today we are the oldest and most experienced private duty agency in San Diego County.She saw a need for quality private duty home health care and she worked diligently to build an agency that filled that need.I am proud to say, her vision is carried on today with our dedicated staff.
I believe our tenure in the community speaks well for us.We have had the opportunity to be of service to countless interesting individuals, including local and worldwide celebrities.It is the people we care for that makes this a fascinating industry.Whether high profile or a more ordinary citizen, we are proud that thousands have entrusted us with their care or the care of their loved ones.Our Mission is to provide high quality, very secure and the most compassionate home health care.We believe that patients heal faster and are happiest when they can stay in their homes.”
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