As loved ones get older, families often notice small changes that signal the need for additional support.
Forgetting to take medications, struggling with dressing, or needing help preparing meals can be subtle signs that everyday tasks, known as activities of daily living (ADLs), are becoming more challenging.
These changes are natural but can also raise concerns about well-being, independence, and quality of life.
At Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail in Keene, TX, our team provides personalized support to help seniors maintain their independence and dignity while offering assistance with ADLs. Whether through our independent living or memory care programs, we’re here to guide seniors and families through this important transition.
Join us in going through the ADLs checklist and discovering daily living aids for seniors.
Activities of Daily Living for Seniors: Essential to Independence
ADLs are essential tasks that people perform every day to care for themselves and live independently. Identified in the 1950s by Sidney Katz, the Katz Index of Independence was one of the first tools developed to assess an individual’s ability to perform ADLs.
Today, ADLs are a cornerstone in evaluating seniors’ needs.
For many families providing home care, noticing that a loved one is struggling with these tasks can feel overwhelming. However, it’s important to know that these challenges are not unusual and often come with age.
Assistance with activities of daily living for seniors typically increases with age. At least 20.7 percent of adults aged 85 or older need help with ADLs, whereas less than four percent of those 65 to 74 need it.
This means you are not alone — many families navigate similar concerns as their loved ones grow older.
Nationwide, assisted living communities report that the most common areas where residents need assistance include:
- Bathing: 64 percent
- Walking: 50 percent
- Dressing: 49 percent
- Toileting: 43 percent
- Bed transfers: 34 percent
- Eating: 22 percent
These figures highlight the everyday challenges many seniors face and emphasize the value of supportive environments where personalized services can make all the difference.
The ADLs Checklist for Seniors
- Personal Hygiene: Bathing, grooming, oral hygiene, and nail care
- Dressing: Choosing appropriate clothing and dressing independently
- Eating: Feeding oneself or using assistive devices to eat
- Mobility: The ability to walk, transfer from bed to chair, or move safely around one’s environment
- Toileting: Managing bathroom needs independently
- Continence: Controlling bowel and bladder functions
Recognizing these needs is the first step toward ensuring your loved one receives the help they deserve. However, you should also understand the other essential needs for experiencing independence in activities on a daily basis.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
While ADLs focus on basic self-care, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) include tasks essential for managing a household and maintaining independence. These include:
- Housekeeping, home maintenance, and laundry
- Using technology
- Transportation
- Meal preparation
- Medication management
- Paying bills and managing finances
- Shopping
A decline in ADLs or IADLs can significantly impact the lives of the individual and their family members.
Common Causes of Decline in ADLs
Several factors can limit a senior’s ability to perform ADLs, including:
- Cognitive Decline: Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
- Chronic Conditions: Arthritis, stroke, or heart disease
- Injuries: Falls or accidents that reduce mobility
- Age-Related Changes: Muscle weakness or joint stiffness
Health care professionals use ADL assessments to identify specific needs and develop care plans tailored to an individual’s challenges. Families may want to look into aids and devices that can help ease a loved one’s lifestyle.
Senior Aids for Daily Living Near You
Mobility aids and assistive products can be incredibly useful for seniors who want to maintain independence at home.
Commonly used daily living aids for seniors include:
- Alzheimer’s & Dementia Aids: Tools like reminder clocks, picture-based phone systems, and orientation aids help seniors with memory loss stay on track and reduce confusion.
- Arthritis Aids: Devices such as jar openers, ergonomic kitchen utensils, and easy-grip tools designed to ease joint strain and reduce discomfort.
- Automobile Aids: Handy products like swivel seat cushions, car handle grab bars, and key turners that make driving or entering/exiting a vehicle safer and easier.
- Living Room Stand Assist Aid: Furniture attachments or standalone frames provide support for standing up from couches or chairs.
- Kitchen and Dining Aids: Adaptive tools such as plate guards, weighted utensils, and spill-proof cups that simplify eating and food preparation.
- Fall Prevention Products: Items like non-slip mats, bed rails, and motion-sensor lights that prevent slips and falls around the home.
- Lumbar Cushions: Backrests and seat cushions that promote proper posture and reduce lower back pain.
- Reachers and Grabbers: Extendable tools that make picking up objects easy without bending or stretching.
- Sock Aids and Dressing Kits: Assistive tools that help seniors put on socks, shoes, and other clothing independently.
- Carts & Bags: Lightweight rolling carts or bags that assist with carrying groceries or personal items without straining the back or hands.
Where to Buy Mobility Products in Keene, TX
For those seeking local solutions, the following stores present a range of adaptive aids and mobility products near Fort Worth, TX:
- One Stop Medical Supply
- IMS Experts Medical Products and Supplies
- Keene Pharmacy
- Brilliant! Medical Boutique
Visit a trusted medical supply store or shop online to find devices designed primarily for seniors’ needs. Make sure to choose products that are easy to use, durable, and suited to your loved one’s specific needs.
Home modifications are also considerations for making ADLs easier. However, the costs and disruptions may not always be worth it for every family.
Purpose-built environments like Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail provide more complete solutions through independent living and memory care.
How Senior Living Communities Support ADLs
When seniors need more consistency, a senior living community like Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail is a seamless solution.
Independent Living
Our Keene independent living community offers:
- Spacious private apartments designed for comfort and accessibility
- Chef-prepared meals in the dining room
- On-site team members, including health care professionals
- Weekly housekeeping
- Daily social events and activities
Memory Care
For those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, our Connections memory care program emphasizes personalized support. While some residents remain mobile and independent, others benefit from additional help with ADLs.
Our team works to balance well-being, autonomy, and community connection for every individual.
We have on-site rehabilitation services at Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail to help residents regain or maintain their independence. With guidance from occupational therapists, seniors can improve their ability to perform ADLs and reduce their reliance on mobility aids. These services enhance quality of life, allowing residents to stay active and engaged.
Supporting Activities of Daily Living for Seniors in Keene
At Pegasus Landing of Chisholm Trail, we’re committed to helping seniors and their families navigate assistance with ADLs. Whether through our independent living or memory care services, our Keene, TX, community offers personalized care, compassionate support, and a social environment.
Schedule a tour today and discover how we can enhance your loved one’s independence and happiness.