Oct 18 • General discussion
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the basic self-care tasks that a person needs to perform every day to live independently and maintain personal well-being.
In homecare, the ability (or inability) to perform these activities helps determine what kind of support or level of care a person needs.
💙 The Six Core Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- Bathing – Washing the body, grooming, and maintaining personal hygiene.
- Dressing – Selecting appropriate clothes and putting them on independently.
- Eating – The ability to feed oneself (not necessarily cooking).
- Transferring – Moving from one position to another (e.g., bed to chair, standing to sitting).
- Toileting – Getting to and from the toilet and managing hygiene afterward.
- Continence – Controlling bladder and bowel functions.
🌟 Why ADLs Matter
- Assessment Tool: Used by healthcare providers and homecare agencies to evaluate a client’s independence level.
- Care Planning: Determines what type of caregiver assistance is needed (e.g., personal care aide vs. companion).
- Insurance & Benefits: Many long-term care insurance policies or Medicaid programs use ADL limitations to qualify for coverage.
💡 Related Term: IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)
These are more complex daily tasks necessary for independent living, such as:
- Cooking and meal preparation
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Managing medications
- Transportation and errands
- Managing finances and communication
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Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
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