independent living scales (ILS)

Procedure

Assessment of activities of daily living.

Development:

• interviews conducted with
  • probate judges, attorneys
  • physicians, psychiatrists
  • nurses, social workers
  • elderly clients
• asked perception of what elderly needed to be able to care for themselves & their property

Screening:

• vision
• reading
• hearing
• speech
• signature
• writing
• walking

Subscales*

• memory/orientation (16)
  • awareness of surroundings
  • short-term memory
• managing money (34)
  • count money
  • monetary calculation
  • pay bills
  • precautions with money
• managing home & transportation (30)
  • use telephone
  • utilize public transportation
  • maintain a safe home
• health & safety (40)
  • awareness of personal health
  • evaluation of health problems
  • handle emergencies
  • take safety precautions
• social adjustment (20)
  • mood
  • attitude toward social relations

Factors* (derived from subscales)

• problem solving
  • requires knowledge of relevant facts, abstract reasoning & problem solving
• performance/information
  • requires general knowledge, short-term memory, ability to perform simple, everyday tasks

* maximum raw score in parentheses standardized score (20-63); full-scale score 55-121

Materials:

Independent living skill record form

• money orders (2 provided)
• blue checks (2 provided)
• gray check (provided)
• map (provided)

stimulus boolet

Coins (5 quarters, 5 dimes, 4 nickels, 5 pennies)

scratch paper

pencil

pen

key

credit card

driver's license

$10 bill

stopwatch

envelope

telephone book

telephone

More general terms

• numerical rating scale (NRS)