Your guide to the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)

It’s a fact of life: we all need to perform basic functions to take care of ourselves.

These “functions” are typically categorized as activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).  

ADLs consist of the more obvious, physical tasks — things like bathing, dressing, and eating. (You can learn all about those here.) 

IADLs, however, can be a little tougher to define. Below, we’ve outlined the primary IADLs in detail: what they are, why they’re important, and how a person-centered care approach can help you maintain your sense of independence within each of them.

Note: If you find yourself struggling to perform any of the functions below, it may be helpful to consider home care. Please remember that needing help with IADLs — or ADLs — is completely normal. And while it may feel like you’re giving up part of your independence by seeking caregiver support, a person-centered care approach will ensure that whatever assistance you receive respects your values, aspirations, and sense of self. You can receive help and still be YOU. 

The 16 recognized IADLs are as follows:

The gist: 
The ability to drive a car independently and safely.

The person-centered care approach: 
Provide you with a personal chauffeur. 

If you’re struggling to safely drive a vehicle by yourself, a person-centered caregiver can act as your personal chauffeur. And it’s not just about driving you from Point A to Point B: if you have specific preferences about how you like to travel by car — say, you love listening to Simon and Garfunkel on the highway — then rest assured you and your caregiver will be singing to “Mrs. Robinson” on repeat in the car.

The gist: 
The ability to use public transportation — buses, trains, etc. — independently.

The person-centered care approach: 
Provide you with a travel companion.

Under a person-centered care approach, a caregiver will ensure you can safely use public transportation the way you want to –– whether that’s sitting on your favorite seat on the crosstown bus, avoiding the subway during rush hour, or taking the new ride-share hovercraft to the mall (hey, who knows how much technology will advance by the time we publish this).

The point is: if you need help using public transportation, a caregiver will serve as your travel buddy to make sure you can continue to use it — safely — whichever way you prefer. 

The gist:
The ability to buy groceries independently. 

The person-centered care approach: 
Provide you with an extra set of hands.

What’s your favorite grocery store? What’s your favorite food from said grocery store? These are the types of questions a person-centered caregiver will ask you to make sure you’re getting the types of groceries that bring you the most joy.

If you prefer the act of shopping, a caregiver will accompany you to the store; or, if you’d rather stay at home, they’ll shop for you and make sure your kitchen is stocked with all your favorite foods. 

The gist:
The ability to shop for small items independently. 

The person-centered care approach: 
Again, provide you with an extra set of hands. 

Just like with grocery shopping, a person-centered caregiver will ensure you get your necessary small item shopping done in whatever way you prefer, whether it’s picking up toiletries, books, or colorful outfits.

The gist:
The ability to prepare meals at home independently.

The person-centered care approach: 
Personal chef? Yes, please! 

If you’re struggling to prepare your favorite recipes, a person-centered caregiver will prepare them for you — although you may have to offer the caregiver baking tips they’re getting the recipes just right. 

The gist:
The ability to safely heat food in a microwave.

The person-centered care approach: 
See #5: personal chef. 

The gist: 
The ability to safely heat food on a stovetop. 

The person-centered care approach: 
See again #5: personal chef. 

The gist:
The ability to organize and schedule appointments independently. 

The person-centered care approach: 
Hello, personal assistant!

If you need help scheduling doctors' or other appointments, a person-centered caregiver will act as your personal assistant and make sure you stay on top of what you need to. 

The gist:
The ability to handle your long-term financial affairs — wills, insurance — independently.

The person-centered care approach: 
See #8: personal assistant. 

While a person-centered caregiver likely won’t also be a certified public accountant or an attorney, they can help you make sure you’re up to date with your mail, forms, and any other paperwork or communication needed for all your financial affairs.

The gist:
The ability to handle your smaller, day-to-day money matters independently.

The person-centered care approach: 
See again #8: personal assistant.

The gist: 

The ability to participate in social activities independently.

The person-centered care approach: 

Provide you with your own event planner.

Staying social is important for maintaining happiness and a sense of purpose as you age. If you’re having trouble maintaining social activities — whether that’s planning them, discovering them, or getting to them — a person-centered caregiver can help ensure you’re staying social the way you want to.

The gist: 
The ability to maintain a clean, clutter-free household.

The person-centered care approach: 
Make you proud to live in your home. 

Aside from keeping things clean and tidy, a person-centered caregiver will make sure 

the décor and vibe of your home are just to your liking. Do you prefer having your morning coffee out of a yellow mug? Rest assured, the mug will be cleaned and ready to use each morning. Do you have a collection of Hitchcock movie posters? You better believe those will stay hung up in the living room for all to marvel at.

It’s all about keeping your home just the way you like it.

The gist: 
The ability to keep up with your laundry.

The person-centered care approach: 
Make sure all your favorite clothes are clean and ready.

In addition to keeping your house tidy and the way you like it, a person-centered  

caregiver will make sure your laundry is taken care of — and they’ll be sure to prioritize the clothes you prefer to wear the most.

The gist: 
The ability to use a telephone.

The person-centered care approach: 
Keep you on-call, always.

If you’re struggling to use the telephone, a person-centered caregiver can help dial and hold the phone for you. It doesn’t matter who you want to call or how long you want to talk.

The gist:
The ability to dial 911 if an emergency arises.

The person-centered care approach: 
Call for help for you.

On a more serious — and obvious — note, your caregiver will call 911 for you if any type of emergency arises.

The gist: 
The ability to use a Medical Alert Button if an emergency arises.

The person-centered care approach: 
Again, call for help for you. 

It’s not always easy to recognize when you might need help with certain tasks, especially when it comes to maintaining independence. We all want to do things on our own as long as we can, but sometimes, tasks can feel just a little bit harder than they used to. It’s perfectly normal to need assistance with certain activities as you age, and recognizing when to ask for help is an important first step. 

Here are some signs that you might need support with one or more IADLs: 

• Struggling with transportation: If driving or using public transportation feels unsafe or overwhelming, it may be time to consider support. A caregiver can help with driving or navigating public transit, so you can continue getting where you need to go with confidence. 

• Feeling stressed about managing finances: If keeping track of bills, budgeting, or handling paperwork becomes confusing or stressful, assistance with managing finances might be beneficial. 

• Skipping appointments or forgetting them: Difficulty organizing and keeping up with appointments, whether for health or other matters, can indicate a need for support in managing your schedule. 

• Avoiding social activities: If you find it harder to participate in social events or maintain connections, a caregiver can help you plan and attend these activities, ensuring you remain socially engaged. 

• Trouble with cooking or meal prep: If cooking becomes physically challenging or you’re simply not able to prepare meals like you used to, a caregiver can step in to prepare your meals — or even just help you make sure you’re eating what you enjoy. 

• Overwhelmed by household chores: Struggling to keep up with housekeeping tasks like laundry, cleaning, and organizing can be a sign that assistance is needed. A caregiver can help maintain your home to ensure it stays clean and comfortable. 

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it’s important to take a moment to think about how you can receive the support you need. Needing help is completely normal — it’s about making sure you continue to live the way you want to, just with a little extra support along the way. The next step is understanding how to customize that support to best fit your needs. It’s not just about finding someone to help — it’s about finding someone who understands you and how you like to live your life. 

When it comes to choosing a home care provider, one size doesn’t fit all — and that’s where a person-centered care approach truly shines. Everyone’s needs are different, and the beauty of personalized care is that it’s tailored to fit your lifestyle, preferences, and goals. 

The first step in customizing care is figuring out exactly where you might need assistance. Take a look at the IADLs we mentioned earlier and consider which ones are becoming a little more challenging. From there, it’s about finding a caregiver who not only understands these needs but also respects the way you live your life. Do you like your caregiver to chat with you about the latest book you’re reading, or maybe you prefer a quieter presence when they’re with you? Whatever it is, the right caregiver will honor that. 

Start by having an open conversation with potential caregivers about your preferences, daily routines, and any specific challenges you’re facing. Don’t hesitate to share what makes you feel most comfortable. This will help ensure you partner with a caregiver who becomes a true companion, not just someone doing a job. With the right support, you can continue living the way you’ve always lived — with just a little extra assistance to keep things running smoothly. 

As we said up top, it is 100% normal to need help with IADLs (and ADLs). Most people will eventually need some type of assistance.

The best thing you can do is look at the list above and be honest about what type of help, if any, you may need. By choosing a caregiver who specializes in person-centered care, you can rest assured knowing that your preferences, goals, and values — and, above all, safety — will stay top-of-mind.

You deserve to continue feeling like you. And, with person-centered care, you will.