Activities of Daily Living (ADL),
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
Early Intervention School
About Activities of Daily Living (ADL), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL)
Here's a brief explanation of about ADL and IADL
Activities of Daily Living (ADL): ADLs are basic self care activities that are essential for an individual’s personal hygiene, physical well-being, and independence. They are typically performed on a daily basis. ADLs include tasks such as:
- Bathing: Taking a bath or shower.
- Dressing: Selecting and putting on appropriate clothing.
- Eating: Feeding oneself, including handling utensils and consuming food.
- Toileting: Using the toilet and maintaining personal hygiene.
- Transferring: Moving from one position to another, like sitting to standing or getting in and out of bed.
- Continence: Controlling bladder and bowel movements.
The ability to perform ADLs independently is an important indicator of a person’s functional status and ability to care for themselves.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL): IADLs are more complex tasks that are necessary for independent living and managing a household. These activities require higher-level cognitive and organizational skills. IADLs include tasks such as:
- Managing finances: Handling tasks related to budgeting, paying bills, and managing money.
- Transportation: Using public transportation or driving to get to different locations.
- Shopping and meal preparation: Planning, purchasing groceries, preparing meals, and managing food storage.
- Housekeeping: Performing household chores like cleaning, laundry, and maintaining a safe living environment.
- Managing medications: Organizing and taking prescribed medications correctly and on time.
- Using communication devices: Operating telephones, computers, or other devices for communication.
The ability to independently perform IADLs demonstrates a higher level of functioning and is often assessed to determine an individual’s ability to live independently.
