As your dad’s greatest wish is to age at home, you must balance his goal with his safety. It’s clear he is having a harder time with day-to-day activities and needs help. A checklist of activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) helps narrow down the right care services. 
 
Use These Checklists to Determine Your Dad’s Level of Independence 
 
To determine your dad’s need for home care assistance, go through a checklist of both ADLs and IADLs. They help you gauge your dad’s care needs, including how many days of care are needed each week. 
 
Start with the list of ADLs. These are the items to look at. 
 
Ambulation – Once he’s standing, can your dad walk around on his own? Is he able to use the stairs? 
Bathing/Hygiene – Is your dad able to take a shower without help? Can he wash his hands and face without someone reminding him or assisting? 
Dressing – Does your dad dress himself appropriately? 
Eating – Can your dad cut foods up into bite-size pieces? Can he get the food to his mouth? 
Grooming – Once he’s showered, can your dad shave and comb his hair? 
Oral Care – Does your dad brush and floss his teeth independently? 
Toileting – Is your dad incontinent? Does he have to be reminded to use the toilet? Does he clean up after or need someone to wipe him? 
Transfers – Can your dad get out of bed, a shower, a car seat, and a chair or sofa independently? 
 
IADLs are the things he needs to do to remain independent as he ages at home. 
 
Bill Paying/Money Management – Does your dad manage his money without help? Can he pay bills, shop for lower prices, and handle banking transactions independently? 
Driving/Transportation – Does your dad drive or know how to use the local bus or subway service? If he can’t, is he able to call someone else for a ride? 
Laundry/Housekeeping – Can your dad keep his home clean without help? Is he able to vacuum the stairs, sterilize surfaces, change a light bulb, and do his laundry? 
Medication Management – Does your dad take his prescriptions on time? Can he keep track of refills and schedule them before he’s out of pills? 
Menu Planning/Meal Preparation – Can your dad plan his daily menu and cook the meals? 
Scheduling – Can he schedule and keep the appointment if he needs to see his doctor for his yearly check-up? Does he know how to look up phone numbers for his HVAC technician, plumber, etc.? 
Shopping – Does your dad go shopping without having help? Can he create a list, look for savings, and put everything away when he’s back home? 
 
Where Can You Turn for Help? 
 
Home care assistance is quickly scheduled by phone. Call a specialist to discuss possible services. You’ll talk about your dad’s health, his strengths, and the areas where he cannot complete tasks without a helping hand. Learn more about the cost of home care assistance and then schedule services. 

If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care in South Tampa, FL please contact the caring staff at Healthy Services Of Tampa, Inc today. 813-932-9922