Home › Clinical Tools › Lawton IADL

🧓 Lawton Instrumental ADL (IADL)

UseWhen to use: geriatric / discharge planning when assessing shopping, meds, finances, etc.

Loading calculator…

StrataHigher scores = more IADL independence; complements Katz basic ADLs.

LimitsWhen not to use: as the only cognition screen. · Pitfall: scoring independent when setup/cueing is required. · Document sex-role version if truncated.

SourceLawton MP & Brody EM. IADL

Runs locally in your browser (no PHI uploaded). For licensed clinicians — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Stored on this device for revisit reminders

This-shift next steps

After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.

Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.

Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Clinical takeaway

8 domains.

When to use

When to use: geriatric / discharge planning when assessing shopping, meds, finances, etc.

How it works

One point each for 8 independent IADL domains (0–8).

Key points

  • 8 domains.
  • 0–8 score.
  • Next: Katz ADL / care plan.

References

  • Lawton MP & Brody EM. IADL

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

Telephone — independentDependent (0)
Shopping — independentDependent (0)
Food preparation — independentDependent (0)
Housekeeping — independentDependent (0)
Laundry — independentDependent (0)
Mode of transportation — independentDependent (0)
Responsibility for medications — independentDependent (0)
Ability to handle finances — independentDependent (0)

→Lawton IADL0/8

  • Cue：Low IADL independence — substantial care planning
Telephone — independentIndependent (+1)
Shopping — independentIndependent (+1)
Food preparation — independentIndependent (+1)
Housekeeping — independentIndependent (+1)
Laundry — independentIndependent (+1)
Mode of transportation — independentIndependent (+1)
Responsibility for medications — independentIndependent (+1)
Ability to handle finances — independentIndependent (+1)

→Lawton IADL8/8

  • Cue：Higher independence — usually community-capable for IADLs
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does Lawton Instrumental ADL (IADL) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is Lawton Instrumental ADL (IADL) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: Telephone — independent Dependent (0), Shopping — independent Dependent (0), Food preparation — independent Dependent (0), Housekeeping — independent Dependent (0), Laundry — independent Dependent (0), Mode of transportation — independent Dependent (0), Responsibility for medications — independent Dependent (0), Ability to handle finances — independent Dependent (0) → Result: Lawton IADL 0 /8（Cue: Low IADL independence — substantial care planning） Inputs: Telephone — independent Independent (+1), Shopping — independent Independent (+1), Food preparation — independent Independent (+1), Housekeeping — independent Independent (+1), Laundry — independent Independent (+1), Mode of transportation — independent Independent (+1), Responsibility for medications — independent Independent (+1), Ability to handle finances — independent Independent (+1) → Result: Lawton IADL 8 /8（Cue: Higher independence — usually community-capable for IADLs）
Related tools

Other tools