Activities of daily living
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) is a term used in healthcare to refer to daily self-care activities within an individual's place of residence, in outdoor environments, or both. Health professionals routinely refer to the ability or inability to perform ADLs as a measurement of the functional status of a person, particularly in regards to people with disabilities and the elderly.[1]
ADLs are defined as "the things we normally do...such as feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming, work, homemaking, and leisure."[2] A number of national surveys collect data on the ADL status of the U.S. population.[3] While basic categories of ADLs have been suggested, what specifically constitutes a particular ADL in a particular environment for a particular person may vary.
Basic ADLs
Basic ADLs (BADLs) consist of self-care tasks, including:[4]
- Personal hygiene and grooming
- Dressing and undressing
- Self feeding
- Functional transfers (getting into and out of bed or wheelchair, getting onto or off toilet, etc.)
- Bowel and bladder management
- Ambulation (walking without use of use of an assistive device (walker, cane, or crutches) or using a wheelchair)
Instrumental ADLs
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are not necessary for fundamental functioning, but they let an individual live independently in a community:[5]
- Housework
- Taking medications as prescribed
- Managing money
- Shopping for groceries or clothing
- Use of telephone or other form of communication
- Using technology (as applicable)
- Transportation within the community
Occupational therapists often evaluate IADLs when completing patient assessments. Assessments may include 9 types of IADLs that are generally optional in nature and can be delegated to others:[6]
- Care of others (including selecting and supervising caregivers)
- Care of pets
- Child rearing
- Use of communication devices
- Community mobility
- Financial management
- Health management and maintenance
- Meal preparation and cleanup
- Safety procedures and emergency responses
Evaluation of ADLs
There are several evaluation tools, such as the Katz ADL scale[7] and the Lawton IADL scale.[8]
Most models of health care service use ADL evaluations in their practice, including the medical (or institutional) models, such as the Roper-Logan-Tierney model of nursing, and the resident-centered models, such as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
See also
References
- ^ "Activities of Daily Living Evaluation." Encyclopedia of Nursing & Allied Health. ed. Kristine Krapp. Gale Group, Inc., 2002. eNotes.com. 2006.Enotes Nursing Encyclopedia Accessed on: 11 Oct, 2007
- ^ MedicineNet.com Medical Dictionary
- ^ National Center for Health Statistics
- ^ McDowell, I., and Newell, C. (1996). Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires, 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Press
- ^ Bookman, A., Harrington, M., Pass, L., & Reisner, E. (2007). Family Caregiver Handbook. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
- ^ "Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process." American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 609-637
- ^ Katz ADL scale
- ^ Lawton IADL scale
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Activities of daily living
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Used to refer to daily self-care activities
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| Optional-Instrumental |
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