The Compass: Activities of Daily Living

The One Chapter Everyone Needs—Because Every Decision Starts Here 
Learn the universal language professionals use to assess care needs and get ahead of future crises. 
 
This chapter is the foundation of your entire elder care journey. Before you can choose the right housing, hire help, or make informed end-of-life decisions, you need to understand what your loved one can still do on their own—and what’s slipping away. Chapter 3 walks you through the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and eight Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) that define their level of independence.
 
We don’t just list them—we explain what each one means, how changes show up over time, and how healthcare professionals use these exact same benchmarks to approve services and shape care plans. You’ll be introduced to two powerful tools: the Katz Index of Independence in ADLs and the Lawton-Brody IADL Scale. These assessments help you pinpoint the kind of help your loved one needs now, track their decline over time, and confidently advocate for resources and support.
 
Unlike free brochures or one-page handouts, this guide puts these clinical tools in plain language and shows you how to apply them—at home or in conversations with doctors, facilities, and insurers. Every other chapter in the GeriScope series refers back to these scores. If you only get one chapter, make it this one.
 
📌 View the Table of Contents to see all that’s included in this chapter.
📊 Sample assessment tools and planning frameworks included.
📺 Visit our YouTube Channel for more topics from GeriScope: The Ultimate Elderly Caregiving Survival Guide.
 
💡 Remember: You can use WIX coupons for bundle or group purchases. Download what you need now, then return to explore more as your elder care journey unfolds. Each chapter is a complete standalone guide—and an essential part of your caregiving toolkit.
 
Key Word Tags:
Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
Katz Index assessment
Lawton Brody Scale
Elderly care needs evaluation tools
How to measure independence