Katz ADL / Lawton IADL - MaineHealth

Patient Name:______________________ Date:_____________ 

Patient ID #________________________ 

BATHING 

Activities 

Points (1 or 0) 

Points: __________ 

DRESSING 

Points: __________ 

TOILETING 

Points: __________ 

TRANSFERRING 

Points: __________ 

CONTINENCE 

Points: __________ 

FEEDING 

Points: __________ 

Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living 

Independence 

(1 Point) 

NO supervision, direction or personal 

assistance. 

(1 POINT) Bathes self completely or 

needs help in bathing only a single part 

of the body such as the back, genital 

area or disabled extremity. 

(1 POINT) Get clothes from closets 

and drawers and puts on clothes and 

outer garments complete with fasteners. 

May have help tying shoes. 

(1 POINT) Goes to toilet, gets on and 

off, arranges clothes, cleans genital area 

without help. 

(1 POINT) Moves in and out of bed or 

chair unassisted. Mechanical transfer 

aids are acceptable 

(1 POINT) Exercises complete self 

control over urination and defecation. 

(1 POINT) Gets food from plate into 

mouth without help. Preparation of food 

may be done by another person. 

Dependence 

(0 Points) 

WITH supervision, direction, 

personal assistance or total care. 

(0 POINTS) Need help with 

bathing more than one part of the 

body, getting in or out of the tub or 

shower. Requires total bathing 

(0 POINTS) Needs help with 

dressing self or needs to be 

completely dressed. 

(0 POINTS) Needs help 

transferring to the toilet, cleaning 

self or uses bedpan or commode. 

(0 POINTS) Needs help in moving 

from bed to chair or requires a 

complete transfer. 

(0 POINTS) Is partially or totally 

incontinent of bowel or bladder 

(0 POINTS) Needs partial or total 

help with feeding or requires 

parenteral feeding. 

TOTAL POINTS: ________ SCORING: 6 = High (patient independent) 0 = Low (patient very dependent 

Source: 

try this: Best Practices in Nursing Care to Older Adults, The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University, College of 

Nursing, www.hartfordign.org.

Patient Name:______________________ Date:_____________ 

Patient ID #________________________ 

LAWTON - BRODY 

INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING SCALE (I.A.D.L.) 

Scoring: For each category, circle the item description that most closely resembles the client’s highest functional 

level (either 0 or 1). 

A. Ability to Use Telephone E. Laundry 

1. Operates telephone on own initiative-looks 1 1. Does personal laundry completely 

up and dials numbers, etc. 

2. Launders small items-rinses stockings, etc. 

2. Dials a few well-known numbers 

1 3. All laundry must be done by others 

3. Answers telephone but does not dial 1 

4. Does not use telephone at all 

0 

B. Shopping F. Mode of Transportation 

1. Takes care of all shopping needs 

1 1. Travels independently on public transportation or 

independently 

drives own car 

2. Shops independently for small purchases 0 2. Arranges own travel via taxi, but does not 

3. Needs to be accompanied on any shopping 0 otherwise use public transportation 

trip 

3. Travels on public transportation when 

4. Completely unable to shop 

0 accompanied by another 

4. Travel limited to taxi or automobile with 

assistance of another 

5. Does not travel at all 

C. Food Preparation G. Responsibility for Own Medications 

1. Plans, prepares and serves adequate meals 1 1. Is responsible for taking medication in correct 

independently 

dosages at correct time 

2. Prepares adequate meals if supplied with 0 2. Takes responsibility if medication is prepared in 

ingredients 

advance in separate dosage 

3. Heats, serves and prepares meals, or 

prepares meals, or prepares meals but does 

not maintain adequate diet 

0 3. Is not capable of dispensing own medication 

4. Needs to have meals prepared and served 0 

D. Housekeeping H. Ability to Handle Finances 

1. Maintains house alone or with occasional 1 1. Manages financial matters independently 

assistance (e.g. "heavy work domestic help") (budgets, writes checks, pays rent, bills, goes to 

2. Performs light daily tasks such as dish 1 bank), collects and keeps track of income 

washing, bed making 

2. Manages day-to-day purchases, but needs help 

3. Performs light daily tasks but cannot 1 with banking, major purchases, etc. 

maintain acceptable level of cleanliness 

3. Incapable of handling money 

4. Needs help with all home maintenance 

tasks 

1 

5. Does not participate in any housekeeping 

tasks 

0 

Score 

Score 

Total score__________________ 

A summary score ranges from 0 (low function, dependent) to 8 (high function, independent) for women 

and 0 through 5 for men to avoid potential gender bias. 

Source: try this: Best Practices in Nursing Care to Older Adults, The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, 

New York University, College of Nursing, www.hartfordign.org. 

1 

1 

0 

1 

1 

1 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

1 

1 

0

general assessment series 

Best Practices in Nursing 

Care to Older Adults 

From The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University, College of Nursing 

Issue Number 2, Revised 2007 Series Editor: Marie Boltz, PhD, GNP-BC 

Series Co-Editor: Sherry A. Greenberg, MSN, GNP-BC 

New York University College of Nursing 

Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) 

By: Meredith Wallace, PhD, APRN, BC, Fairfield University School of Nursing, and Mary Shelkey, PhD, 

ARNP, Virginia Mason Medical Center 

WHY: Normal aging changes and health problems frequently show themselves as declines in the functional status of older adults. Decline 

may place the older adult on a spiral of iatrogenesis leading to further health problems. One of the best ways to evaluate the health status 

of older adults is through functional assessment which provides objective data that may indicate future decline or improvement in health 

status, allowing the nurse to intervene appropriately. 

BEST TOOL: The Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, commonly referred to as the Katz ADL, is the most appropriate 

instrument to assess functional status as a measurement of the client’s ability to perform activities of daily living independently. Clinicians 

typically use the tool to detect problems in performing activities of daily living and to plan care accordingly. The Index ranks adequacy 

of performance in the six functions of bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding. Clients are scored yes/no for 

independence in each of the six functions. A score of 6 indicates full function, 4 indicates moderate impairment, and 2 or less indicates 

severe functional impairment. 

TARGET POPULATION: The instrument is most effectively used among older adults in a variety of care settings, when baseline 

measurements, taken when the client is well, are compared to periodic or subsequent measures. 

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY: In the thirty-five years since the instrument has been developed, it has been modified and simplified and 

different approaches to scoring have been used. However, it has consistently demonstrated its utility in evaluating functional status in the 

elderly population. Although no formal reliability and validity reports could be found in the literature, the tool is used extensively as a flag 

signaling functional capabilities of older adults in clinical and home environments. 

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The Katz ADL Index assesses basic activities of daily living. It does not assess more advanced activities 

of daily living. Katz developed another scale for instrumental activities of daily living such as heavy housework, shopping, managing finances 

and telephoning. Although the Katz ADL Index is sensitive to changes in declining health status, it is limited in its ability to measure small 

increments of change seen in the rehabilitation of older adults. A full comprehensive geriatric assessment should follow when appropriate. 

The Katz ADL Index is very useful in creating a common language about patient function for all practitioners involved in overall care 

planning and discharge planning. 

MORE ON THE TOPIC: 

Best practice information on care of older adults: www.ConsultGeriRN.org. 

Graf, C. (2006). Functional decline in hospitalized older adults. AJN, 106(1), 58-67. 

Katz, S., Down, T.D., Cash, H.R., & Grotz, R.C. (1970) Progress in the development of the index of ADL. The Gerontologist, 10(1), 20-30. 

Katz, S. (1983). Assessing self-maintenance: Activities of daily living, mobility and instrumental activities of daily living. 

JAGS, 31(12), 721-726. 

Kresevic, D.M., & Mezey, M. (2003). Assessment of function. In M. Mezey, T. Fulmer, I. Abraham (Eds.), D. Zwicker (Managing Ed.), 

Geriatric nursing protocols for best practice (2nd ed., pp 31-46). NY: Springer Publishing Co., Inc. 

Mick, D.J., & Ackerman, M.H. (2004, Sept). Critical care nursing for older adults: Pathophysiological and functional considerations. 

Nursing Clinics of North America, 39(3), 473-93. 

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce, post, download, and/or distribute, this material in its entirety only for not-for-profit educational purposes only, provided that 

The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University, College of Nursing is cited as the source. This material may be downloaded and/or distributed in electronic format, 

including PDA format. Available on the internet at www.hartfordign.org and/or www.ConsultGeriRN.org. E-mail notification of usage to: [email protected].

✁ 

Issue Number 23, Revised 2007 Series Editor: Marie Boltz, PhD, APRN, BC, GNP 

Managing Editor: Sherry A. Greenberg, MSN, APRN, BC, GNP 

New York University College of Nursing 

The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale 

By: Carla Graf, MS, APRN, BC, University of California, San Francisco 

WHY: The assessment of functional status is critical when caring for older adults. Normal aging changes, acute illness, worsening chronic 

illness, and hospitalization can contribute to a decline in the ability to perform tasks necessary to live independently in the community. The 

information from a functional assessment can provide objective data to assist with targeting individualized rehabilitation needs or to plan for 

specific in home services such as meal preparation, nursing care, home-maker services, personal care, or continuous supervision. A 

functional assessment can also assist the clinician to focus on the person’s baseline capabilities, facilitating early recognition of changes that 

may signify a need either for additional resources or for a medical work-up (Gallo, 2006). 

BEST TOOL: The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) is an appropriate instrument to assess independent living 

skills (Lawton & Brody, 1969). These skills are considered more complex than the basic activities of daily living as measured by the Katz 

Index of ADLs (See Try this: Katz Index of ADLs). The instrument is most useful for identifying how a person is functioning at the present 

time, and to identify improvement or deterioration over time. There are eight domains of function measured with the Lawton IADL scale. 

Women are scored on all 8 areas of function; historically, for men, the areas of food preparation, housekeeping, laundering are excluded. 

Clients are scored according to their highest level of functioning in that category. A summary score ranges from 0 (low function, dependent) 

to 8 (high function, independent) for women, and 0 through 5 for men. 

TARGET POPULATION: This instrument is intended to be used among older adults, and can be used in community or hospital settings. 

The instrument is not useful for institutionalized older adults. It can be used as a baseline assessment tool and to compare baseline function 

to periodic assessments. 

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY: Few studies have been performed to test the Lawton IADL scale psychometric properties. The Lawton IADL 

Scale was originally tested concurrently with the Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (PSMS). Reliability was established with twelve subjects 

interviewed by one interviewer with the second rater present but not participating in the interview process. Inter-rater reliability was 

established at .85. The validity of the Lawton IADL was tested by determining the correlation of the Lawton IADL with four scales that 

measured domains of functional status, the Physical Classification (6-point rating of physical health), Mental Status Questionnaire (10-point 

test of orientation and memory), Behavior and Adjustment rating scales (4-6-point measure of intellectual, person, behavioral and social 

adjustment), and the PSMS (6-item ADLs). A total of 180 research subjects participated in the study, however, few received all five 

evaluations. All correlations were significant at the .01 or .05 level. To avoid potential gender bias at the time the instrument was developed, 

specific items were omitted for men. This assessment instrument is widely used both in research and in clinical practice. 

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: The Lawton IADL is an easy to administer assessment instrument that provides self-reported 

information about functional skills necessary to live in the community. Administration time is 10-15 minutes. Specific deficits identified can 

assist nurses and other disciplines in planning for safe discharge. 

Limitations of the instrument can include the self-report or surrogate report method of administration rather than a demonstration of the 

functional task. This may lead either to over-estimation or under-estimation of ability. In addition, the instrument may not be sensitive to 

small, incremental changes in function. 

FOLLOW-UP: The identification of new disabilities in these functional domains warrants intervention and further assessment to prevent 

ongoing decline and to promote safe living conditions for older adults. If using the Lawton IADL tool with an acute hospitalization, nurses 

should communicate any deficits to the physicians and social workers/case managers for appropriate discharge planning. 

MORE ON THE TOPIC: 

Best practice information on care of older adults: www.ConsultGeriRN.org. 

Gallo, J.J., & Paveza, G.J. (2006). Activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living assessment. In J.J. Gallo, H.R. Bogner, T. Fulmer, 

& G.J. Paveza (Eds.), Handbook of Geriatric Assessment (4 th ed., pp. 193-240). MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. 

Graf, C. (2006). Functional decline in hospitalized older adults. AJN, 106(1), 58-67. 

Lawton, M.P., & Brody, E.M. (1969). Assessment of older people: Self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. The Gerontologist, 

9(3), 179-186. 

Pearson, V. (2000). Assessment of function. In R. Kane, & R. Kane (Eds.), Assessing Older Persons. Measures, Meaning and Practical Applications 

(pp. 17-48). New York: Oxford University Press. 

Permission is hereby granted to reproduce, post, download, and/or distribute, this material in its entirety only for not-for-profit educational purposes only, provided that 

The Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, College of Nursing, New York University is cited as the source. This material may be downloaded and/or distributed in electronic 

format, including PDA format. Available on the internet at www.hartfordign.org and/or www.ConsultGeriRN.org. E-mail notification of usage to: [email protected]. 

[email protected] AJN ▼ April 2008 ▼ Vol. 108, No. 4 59

Katz ADL / Lawton IADL - MaineHealth

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