As we age, it is common to feel that we lose part of the vitality that has accompanied us in past years. If we are talking about the elderly, it is possible that even some routine day-to-day activities are almost impossible for them to carry out independently. If you are around older people, you may have wondered if certain tasks can be done alone or, on the contrary, need help or supervision. The Katz index is a tool used to determine if seniors are dependent for their daily activities.
The Katz index could be defined as a test that aims to assess whether the patient can perform basic daily activities independently; and if not, to know exactly what degree of dependence they may have on a third party. “Its purpose is to determine the appropriate attention, care and treatment according to the degree of dependency of the elderly” they say from the Emera Group, a group of nursing homes and day centers.
The Katz scale will determine a score after evaluating a series of basic aspects. Among them stands out:
The Katz index can be assessed numerically or alphabetically. The evaluation of the six previous aspects will result in a number (from 0 to 6) or a letter (from A to H). A and 0 are the most independent results. For their part, the number 6 and the letter H are the result of the highest degree of dependency.
