Eldercare Special Needs

ELDERCARE HEALTH SERIES -

How do you know when your aging parent, or spouse has special homecare needs? Bobbie looks at many of the common special needs she sees in her elder-home-care practice and how you can help. Another common concern is what are the guidelines for determining when special care is indicated? Bobbie talks about some of these helpful guidelines and how to know when you need outside help:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADL) refers to six activities: (bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet, eating, and walking) that reflect the patient's capacity for self-care.

• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) refers to six daily tasks: (light housework, preparing meals, taking medications, shopping for groceries or clothes, using the telephone, and managing money) that enables the patient to live independently in the community