When a loved one starts struggling with bathing, dressing, eating, or moving around safely, daily life can become stressful for the whole family. You want to help, but you also want to protect their dignity and independence.
Learning how to support activities of daily living, often called ADLs, can make care at home safer and more respectful. It can also help families know when extra support, including NHTD services, may be worth exploring.
What Are ADLs and IADLs?
ADLs are basic self-care tasks people need for health, hygiene, and safety. These often include:
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Eating
- Toileting
- Grooming
- Moving from a bed to a chair
- Walking or moving safely around the home
IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are more complex tasks that support independent living. These may include:
- Preparing meals
- Shopping for groceries
- Managing medications
- Handling finances
- Doing laundry
- Light housekeeping
- Scheduling appointments
Both ADLs and IADLs matter. When a loved one has trouble with either group of tasks, it may be time to adjust the care plan at home.
Help Without Taking Over
The goal of caregiving is not to do everything for your loved one. The goal is to help them do as much as they safely can.
If your loved one can still complete part of a task, allow extra time. For example, they may need help choosing clothes, but can still put on a shirt. They may need support getting into the shower, but can wash some areas on their own.
Small choices also matter. Ask, “Would you like the blue sweater or the gray one?” instead of making every decision for them. These moments help preserve dignity and control.
Create a Safe and Simple Routine
A steady routine can reduce stress, especially for someone with memory loss, confusion, or anxiety. Try to keep bathing, meals, grooming, and bedtime at similar times each day.
You can also make tasks easier by breaking them into steps. Instead of saying, “Get ready,” try, “Let’s put on your socks first.” Simple directions can make the process feel less overwhelming.
Safety tools may also help. Shower chairs, grab bars, raised toilet seats, non-slip mats, and long-handled shoehorns can make daily tasks safer and easier.
Communicate with Respect
Personal care can feel uncomfortable or embarrassing for the person receiving help. A calm, respectful approach can make a big difference.
Explain what you are doing before you do it. Give privacy when possible. Use a gentle tone, even when accidents happen or a task takes longer than expected.
If your loved one resists help, pause and try to understand why. They may feel rushed, tired, embarrassed, or afraid of losing independence.
When Family Support Is Not Enough
Many families reach a point where caregiving becomes too much to manage alone. This does not mean you have failed. It means your loved one may need more support than one person can provide.
Professional home care may help with personal care, meal preparation, mobility support, companionship, and daily routines. It can also give family caregivers time to rest and handle other responsibilities.
How NHTD Services May Help
For eligible New York residents, the NHTD waiver program may help support community living as an alternative to nursing home placement. NHTD stands for Nursing Home Transition and Diversion.
NHTD services may include support such as service coordination, home and community support services, and independent living skills training. These services are based on eligibility, assessed needs, program rules, and an approved service plan. They are not automatically available to everyone.
For some families, NHTD support can make it easier for a loved one to remain safely at home while receiving help with daily needs.
A Better Way to Support Daily Care
Helping with ADLs takes patience, planning, and respect. By encouraging independence, creating routines, improving safety, and asking for help when needed, families can make daily care more manageable.
If you or a loved one needs compassionate home care support, HouseCalls Home Care is here to help. Call 718-922-9200, email info@HouseCallshc.org, or register here: https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/to/E5thuv5G?typeform-source=statics.teams.cdn.office.net.
