Activities of Daily Living are essential personal care tasks that an individual is conditioned and has learned from a young age to perform. They are vital for sustaining life and basic functioning and should ideally be done daily without any supervision and assistance from an external party. Unfortunately, our physical and cognitive functions naturally decline as we age, and we may require assistance with these mundane tasks.
Before a resident moves into a senior living community, they will be assessed based on this list of tasks to determine if they are a suitable fit for the community’s type of care. For instance, an individual with mobility issues may not be ideal for an independent living community and would perhaps be fitted in an assisted living community that provide ambulatory care and occupational therapy.
Toileting
One of the first essential skills we learned at a young age is to use the bathroom independently and practice handwashing hygiene practices. However, as we all age, a wet and inaccessible bathroom can become dangerous and pose a hazard to our safety. If you are finding it challenging to navigate using the toilet and have difficulty sitting down and getting off the bathroom, it may be time to implement more safety features and consider assistive care options such as assisted living.
Bathing
Bathing and showering are an essential part of everyday life, as good personal hygiene is key to ensuring a good quality of life. This is one of the first tasks that will be assessed to determine if your capability to care for yourself without assistance and gauge how independent you are. Negligence of personal hygiene can indicate an onsetof cognitive and physical decline. If you observe this happening, it may be time to consider supportive care or in-home care.
Continence
Pelvic floor muscles weakness and nerve changes that might lead to frail bowel and bladder controls are very common issues as we age. While incontinence may seems like a taboo topic, the best counterstep would be to seek professtional help. Pelvic floor exercises, bladder training and changes in diet are some ways that may help to amerioliate mild incontinence. Depending on how much it affects your daily life, your continence ability plays an unneglectable role in the choice of living community.
Mobility
This refers to moving around freely without any major physical limitations and is one of the many abilities that many aging adults lose when they lose muscle mass in their bodies. The bottom-line of this category is that the individual can move around without any external assistance. Therefore, it may be time to consider physical therapy and ambulatory care to help them cope with their condition.
Dressing
While this includes properly wearing their clothes, this category also comprises the ability to select the proper clothing style suitable for the right type of event, occasion, and weather. For instance, picking a coat when it is snowing outside and wearing something light and casual when the sun is out, as being overdressed or underdressed can be potentially dangerous. In addition, they should be able to handle intricate details such as buttoning, fastening, and zipping up their clothes without a hitch.
Eating
Food is nutrition and provides us with the energy to function daily. However, some aging adults may find it difficult to eat as their physical and cognitive health declines. In addition, many of them live with chronic illnesses that may have affected their dexterity and motor skills, such as Parkinson’s disease. If nutrition absorption becomes a concern, it is important to consider a skilled nursing home with round-the-clock assistance.
Independence at Our Core
The Welstone At Mission Crossing is committed to providing you the freedom and autonomy to pursue your hobbies and interests. With the variety of enriching programs and the premium, state-of-the-art amenities we offer, you will never have a dull moment with us. Our living options and floor plans are designed to be spacious to provide you with an abode that you could truly call their own. More importantly, our community team members are constantly elevating their quality of service and are committed to serving you to the best of their abilities.
