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IADL — Lawton Scale

Independence in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). 8 functions, score 0–8. Higher score = greater independence.

Ability to use the telephone

Using the telephone.

Shopping

Shopping for groceries and other needs.

Food preparation

Cooking and serving meals.

Housekeeping

Maintaining the home.

Laundry

Washing clothes.

Mode of transportation

Getting around outside the home.

Responsibility for own medications

Taking prescribed therapy.

Ability to handle finances

Managing money.

IADL — Lawton Scale

–/8

0/8 items completed

Quick reference

8Full independence
6–7Mild impairment
4–5Moderate impairment
0–3Severe impairment

Higher score = greater independence

Frequently asked questions

What is the Lawton IADL Scale?

The Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Scale, published by Lawton and Brody in 1969, assesses eight activities needed to live independently in the community: using the telephone, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, medication management and handling finances. Each is scored 0 or 1, for a total of 0–8.

How do you interpret the Lawton score?

The scale has no universally validated cut-offs: 8 means full independence and lower scores mean more functions lost. On Two Nurse, 6–7 is shown as mild, 4–5 as moderate and 0–3 as severe impairment — indicative bands that, together with clinical judgment, guide the need for home support.

What is the difference between ADL and IADL?

ADL (Katz, Barthel) are basic self-care activities: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence and feeding. IADL (Lawton) are more complex activities needed for community living: managing medications and money, shopping, cooking, using the phone and transport. IADL are usually lost first in cognitive and functional decline.

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