activities of daily living

activities of daily living (ADLs),

Everyday routines generally involving functional mobility and personal care, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and meal preparation. An inability to perform these renders one dependent on others, resulting in a self-care deficit. A major goal of occupational therapy is to enable the client to perform activities of daily living.
See also: instrumental activities of daily living scale.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

ac·tiv·i·ties of daily liv·ing

(ADL) (ak-tiv'i-tēz dā'lē liv'ing)

Everyday routines generally involving functional mobility and personal care, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and meal preparation. An inability to perform these renders one dependent on others, resulting in a self-care deficit. A major goal of occupational therapy is to enable the client to perform activities of daily living.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012