What Are ADL's? Activities of daily living or (ADLs) can best be described as all the things we normally do in daily living including any daily activity we perform for the care of ourselves.  We normally perform these simple tasks as part of our daily routine and don't give them a thought until suddenly find one or more of them difficult or impossible to do without assistance. Some Common ADLs Many Of Us Do Every Day : Prepare meals and feed ourselves Shower or bathe ourselves Groom, brush teeth Housekeeping Maintain continence and/or use the toilet Transfer in/out or bed, chair, toilet General mobility Leisure activates that bring joy to our lives such as going for walks, attending social events, & other important activities such as attending worship services and events.

Healthcare professionals will often examine a person's ability to perfom ADLs to determine the functional status of a patient and decide which health care services they may need. Some ADL scales are actually divided into two distinct areas.  ADLs (Activities of daily living), and IADLs (Instrumental activities of daily living).

ADL Which refers to six activities (bathing, dressing, transferring, using the toilet, eating, and walking). Which indicates a person's ability to care for themselves.

IADLs Refers to six daily tasks (light housework, preparing meals, organizing and taking medications, shopping for groceries or clothes, using the telephone, and managing their money) All of which enables the patient to live independently.

Common ADLs & IADLs

• Shopping
• Laundry/ Change Linens
• Use The Telephone
• Responsibility For Taking Correct Doses Of Medications
• Ability To Handle Finances
• Communication Skills
• Driving
• Ability To Climb Stairs
• Safety Concerns & Ability To Respond To Emergencies
• Care of Others, Including Pets