Activities of Daily Living
Definition
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the most basic and
fundamental functions of self-care, and they are used
to describe the functional status or functional ability
of a person, usually with reference to older people
or people needing long-term care. There are several
dimensions of ADLs and people are classified as
independent or dependent on each of them. These functions
are bathing, dressing, using the toilet, transferring
in and out of beds or chairs, continence, and eating. As
continence is more indicative of a physiological state
than a function, it is often removed from the ADL measures.
Another term, “instrumental activities of daily
living” (IADLs), describes activities that are not necessary
for fundamental functioning but needed for independence
in the respective environment or community.
This includes activities like cooking, cleaning, laundry,
shopping, making and receiving telephone calls, driving
or using public transportation, and taking medicines