Lawton IADL Scale Calculator

Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale: Explanation and Clinical Context The Lawton IADL Scale assesses a person's ability to perform complex activities necessary for living independently in the community. It evaluates eight domains: ability to use telephone, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, responsibility for own medications, and ability to handle finances. Each activity is scored as 1 (independent) or 0 (needs assistance), resulting in a total score ranging from 0 to 8.

A higher score indicates greater independence. This scale is widely used in geriatric and clinical practice to detect early functional decline, plan care, and monitor progression of disabilities. Interpretation: 8 = Independent, 4-7 = Moderate Dependence, 0-3 = Severe Dependence.