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.

activities of daily living (ADL)

[aktiv′itēz]

the activities usually performed in the course of a normal day in a person's life, such as eating, toileting, dressing, bathing, or brushing the teeth. The ability to perform ADL may be compromised by a variety of causes, including chronic illnesses and accidents. The limitation may be temporary or permanent; rehabilitation may involve relearning the skills or learning new ways to accomplish ADL. The goal of health care professionals is to promote the greatest degree of independence for the patient. An ADL checklist is often used before discharge from a hospital. If any activities cannot be adequately performed, arrangements are made with an outside agency, health care professionals, or family members to provide the necessary assistance. See also Barthel Index.

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.

activities of daily living

,

ADL

Tasks performed by people in a typical day that allow independent living. Basic activities of daily living (BADL) include feeding, dressing, hygiene, and mobility. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) include more advanced skills such as managing personal finances, using transportation, telephoning, cooking, performing household chores, doing laundry, and shopping.

The ability to perform activities of daily living may be hampered by illness or accident resulting in physical or mental disability. Health care rehabilitation workers play a significant role in teaching people to maintain or relearn these skills so that they can achieve the highest possible degree of independence.

Patient care

The nurse and other members of the rehabilitation team, including occupational and physical therapists, assess the patient's ability to perform ADLs. The rehabilitation team instructs and trains the patient in techniques to relearn the skill, or to accommodate for inability to perform the task. Where appropriate, family members are involved in the rehabilitation program. Referrals to community agencies are arranged when specific tasks cannot be performed independently. See: table

electronic aids to activities of daily living

Abbreviation: EADLs

Computerized or electronic devices that help people with functional limitations gain entry to and exit from buildings, use telephones and other household items, and enjoy leisure activities.

extended activities of daily living

Instrumental activities of daily living.

instrumental activities of daily living

Abbreviation: IADL

Those activities and tasks beyond basic self-care that are necessary for living independently. These activities include communication, mobility, cooking, using the telephone, cleaning the house, doing laundry, shopping, going to the bank, and managing medications.

Synonym: extended activities of daily living See: activities of daily living; self-care

Category	Activities	Affecting Factors
Personal care	Climbing stairs, moving into and out of chair or bed, feeding oneself, opening containers, dressing, using toilet, maintaining hygiene, taking medication	Altered mobility, physical, mental, or emotional illness, elimination problems
Family responsibilities	Shopping, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning, caring for yard, caring for family and pets, managing money	Altered mobility, heavy work schedule, insomnia, physical, mental, or emotional illness
Work or school	Fulfilling work responsibilities or school assignments, getting to and from work or school	Altered mobility, stress, heavy family demands, job dissatisfaction, difficulties in school, physical, mental, or emotional illness
Recreation	Pursuing hobbies and interests, exercising, reading, watching television	Altered mobility, physical, mental, or emotional illness
Socialization	Using the telephone, traveling, visiting family and friends, joining group activities, expressing sexuality	Altered mobility, physical, mental, or emotional illness, relocation