Elder Law Essential Knowledge: Activities of Daily Living Described here
If you are like most families, chances are that you come across caregiving issues for an older parent and need some elder law knowledge about the definition of essential ADLS and elder law. Aging parents often need help in determining if they can stay at home with a little help. In many cases, going to a nursing home can be avoided, if you plan in advance of becoming incapacitated physically and mentally. One of the first things that you need to learn about is the activities of daily living, called ADLs.
The National Paliative Research Center has put out a great list of ADLS, which can be listed and summarized as:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Transferring
- Feeding
- Continence
- Toileting
The checklist for ADLS also includes the KATZ Index of Independence which can be completed in order to know what level of function exists in each area listed above. We believe California residence benefit from not only the KATZ index but from taking this checklist to their elderly parent for self-assessment by the parent.
Lawton-Brody also has a scale to determine other factors needed for independent living. Print the scale and examine it with your parent.
- Can your parent use the telephone or other communication device?
- Can he or she shop for food?
- Can he or she fill prescriptions at the pharmacy?
- Can he or she prepare food?
- Can he or she do housekeeping?
- How about Laundry? Can he/she do his own laundry?
- Can he or she manage bills and collect his or her income? Ask about management of assets as well.
Elder Law Essential Knowledge: Activities of Daily Living Described here
Note: ADLs are different from Activity of Living, called AL as developed by nurses to check the well-being of an individual which AL’s are listed below:
The ALs are listed as:
- Maintaining a safe environment
- Communication
- Breathing
- Eating and drinking
- Elimination
- Washing and dressing
- Controlling temperature
- Mobilisation
- Working and playing
- Expressing sexuality
- Sleeping
- Death and dying
Source: Wikipedia
Talk to our elder law attorney, Mina Sirkin, to obtain elder law knowledge or more information about elder law in Los Angeles by calling 818.340.4479 or by email at Info@Probate.La or Info@Sirkinlaw.com. Our attorneys are experts in Elder Law in Los Angeles County California and can help you figure things out about ADLs and aging in Los Angeles.
Elder Law Essential Knowledge: Activities of Daily Living Described here
