At Any Age, It Does Matter:
Substance Abuse and Older Adults (for Professionals)

Supplements

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale

Self-Rated Version Extracted From the Multilevel Assessment Instrument (MAI)

1. Can you use the telephone:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to use the telephone?

1
2. Can you get to places out of walking distance:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to travel unless special arrangements are made?

1
3. Can you go shopping for groceries:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to do any shopping?

1
4. Can you prepare your own meals:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to prepare any meals?

1
5. Can you do your own housework:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to do any housework?

1
6. Can you do your own handyman work:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to do any handyman work?

1
7. Can you do your own laundry:  
 

Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to do any laundry at all?

1
8a. Do you take any medications or use any medications?  
 

(ASK Q. 8b) Yes

1
 

(ASK Q. 8c) No

2
8b. (ASK IF SUBJECT TAKES MEDICINE NOW)  
 

Do you take your own medicine? (CHECK BELOW)

  
8c. (ASK IF SUBJECT DOES NOT TAKE MEDICINE NOW)  
 

If you had to take medicine, could you do it: (CHECK BELOW)

  
 

Without help (in the right doses at the right time)

3
 

With some help (take medicine if someone prepares it for you and/or reminds you to take it)

2
 

Are you/would you be completely unable to take your own medicines?

1
9. Can you manage your own money:  
  Without help

3
 

With some help

2
 

Are you completely unable to handle money?

1

Note on Scoring:
If fewer than 5 items are valid, then scoring cannot be done reliably.

Source: Lawton, M.P.; Moss, M.; Fulcomer, M.; et al. A research and service-oriented Multilevel Assessment Instrument. Journal of Gerontology 1982, 37:91-99.

References

  1. Lawton, M.P. Scales to measure competence in everyday activities. Psychopharmacology Bulletin 24(4):609-614, 1988.
  2. Lawton, M.P., and Brody, E.M. Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist 9:179-186, 1969.
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