What IADLs might be assessed in the LTCF and why?

• A. IADLs such as meal preparation, managing finances, medication management, telephone use, transportation; they help determine independence and need for supervision.
• B. Only spoken language ability.
• C. Only gross motor strength.
• D. Only urine output.

Answer: (A)

IADLs are the complex tasks needed to live independently and manage a household. In a long-term care facility, assessing them shows how independently a resident can function and what level of supervision or assistance is needed, guiding care planning and safety decisions. Common IADLs include meal preparation, managing finances, medication management, using a telephone, and transportation; these require planning, organization, and problem-solving, reflecting a person’s real-world living abilities. The other areas—spoken language ability, gross motor strength, and urine output—relate to communication/cognition, basic physical function, and medical status, not the higher-level, everyday tasks captured by IADLs.