ASSESSMENTS
Lawton-Brody IADL Scale

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Assessment

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Assessment

The Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale is a standardized functional assessment used to evaluate a person's ability to perform more complex daily tasks required for independent living. Unlike basic ADL tools, the Lawton-Brody IADL focuses on higher-order functions that are often affected earlier in cognitive decline, making it particularly valuable for detecting functional changes in aging and dementia.

Delivered digitally through the BrainCheck platform, the Lawton-Brody IADL supports efficient administration and longitudinal tracking, complementing cognitive and dementia-related assessments.

Benefits include:

  • Assesses higher-order daily living skills that are often early indicators of cognitive decline.
  • Broader functional picture than basic ADL tools, capturing independence across seven skill domains.
  • Longitudinal tracking supports monitoring of functional changes associated with aging and dementia.
  • Complements cognitive and dementia-related assessments within the BrainCheck Platform.

Skills the Lawton-Brody IADL Assesses


Telephone use:
ability to initiate and manage phone calls.


 


Shopping:
ability to manage grocery and household purchasing.


 


Food preparation:
ability to plan and prepare meals independently.


 


Housekeeping and laundry:
ability to maintain a clean and organized living space.

 


Transportation:
ability to use transportation independently.

 


Medication management:
ability to manage prescriptions and dosing.

 


Financial management:
ability to handle personal finances and bills.

 




 




 

Common Clinical Use Cases

  • Functional assessment in aging, dementia, and memory clinic settings.
  • Early detection of functional changes associated with mild cognitive impairment.
  • Supporting care planning and monitoring of independence over time.
  • Complementing cognitive assessments in comprehensive brain health evaluations.

On the BrainCheck Platform

  • Digitally administered with structured functional independence scoring.
  • Longitudinal tracking enables monitoring of IADL changes across visits.
  • Complements cognitive and dementia-related assessments within BrainCheck.
  • Supports comprehensive aging and dementia care workflows within the BrainCheck Platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key things to know about the Lawton-Brody IADL Scale

What is the Lawton-Brody IADL Scale?

The Lawton-Brody IADL Scale is a standardized functional assessment used to evaluate a person's ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living required for independent living.

What skills does the Lawton-Brody IADL assess?

It assesses higher-level daily skills such as telephone use, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, transportation, medication management, and financial management.

How is the Lawton-Brody IADL different from basic ADL assessments?

Unlike basic ADL tools, the Lawton-Brody IADL focuses on more complex tasks that are often affected earlier in cognitive decline, making it useful for detecting functional changes in aging and dementia.

Is the Lawton-Brody IADL a diagnostic tool?

No. The Lawton-Brody IADL is not diagnostic. It is used to assess functional independence and support care planning and monitoring over time.

How does using the Lawton-Brody IADL on BrainCheck support aging and dementia care?

Delivered digitally through BrainCheck, the Lawton-Brody IADL supports efficient administration, structured results, and longitudinal tracking, and complements cognitive and dementia-related assessments.

More Clinical Evaluation Tools

BrainCheck offers a broad library of clinical evaluation tools designed to support early identification, risk stratification, and longitudinal monitoring of cognitive health across clinical and research settings.

See More