What Are Activities of Daily Living?

Taking a shower, eating a meal and getting dressed are some of the activities we do every day without much thought. However, these activities of daily living (ADLs) can become challenging due to illness or aging. ADLs refer to the skills and tasks we do on a regular basis to take care of ourselves. As we get older, we may need assistance to perform these activities. Fortunately, support is available for those who need it.

There are three different categories of daily living activities. The first are ADLs. These are tasks that we perform every day to stay healthy. ADLs help to keep you and those around you safe. The next classification is instrumental activities of daily living, or iADLs. iADLs are activities that allow you to run your household. These tasks require more organizational and critical thinking skills. Domestic activities of daily living (dADLs) is the third and final category. Despite sounding like they encompass household tasks, activities in this category include hobbies and other pastimes that enrich your life.

Basic activities of daily living that involve self-care or personal care fall under the ADL category. These are tasks that relate to the needs of your physical body for survival. Not being able to perform ADLs can lead to a loss of independence. Therefore, receiving help from a caretaker at home or in a facility is critical to help improve quality of life.

Examples of ADLs include:

• Bathing, using soap and water to wash your body, and using a towel to dry
• Personal hygiene tasks, such as brushing your teeth, trimming your finger and toenails, and shaving
• Getting dressed (or undressed) and being able to use buttons, zippers, and snaps
• Using the toilet, including moving onto or off of the toilet, and being able to clean yourself
• Eating and using utensils to feed yourself 

While iADLs aren’t as focused on the health of your physical body, they are still significant. Instrumental activities are essential tasks that allow you to manage and organize your home. These tasks use more thinking skills than ADLs. It is common for people to seek help with iADLs as they get older, before the need for other types of assistance. 

Examples of iADLs include:

• Preparing meals, including the use of different types of kitchen equipment and tools
• Doing chores around the home, such as laundry, cleaning, and maintenance
• Managing finances, budgeting and paying bills
• Being able to drive a car or take public transportation
• Communicating, whether via phone, computer, or other types of technology
• Making medical appointments and taking necessary medication

Aside from ADLs and iADLs, there are other activities that make life more enjoyable. These activities fall under the dADL category — domestic activities of daily living. And while dADLs provide more fulfillment to your life, they are sometimes the first types of activities we tend to do less of as we age. 

Examples of dADLS include:

• Exercising
• Enjoying hobbies which may require dexterity, like playing a musical instrument, painting, or knitting
• Completing mental puzzles like crosswords or trivia
• Taking care of pets, as well as taking care of loved ones
• Socializing with others and participating in community activities

Assessing you or your loved one’s ability to perform ADLs is important. Doing so helps in determining what type of senior living support you or your loved one may need. Some things may be obvious: Friends or neighbors may mention that they notice a change in your loved one’s behavior or how they look. But it’s not always this easy to identify when your loved one needs help; many seniors hide what they can no longer do. 

There are a variety of ways you can tell if someone needs assistance with their daily activities, such as:

• Changes in their eating habits and/or weight fluctuations
• Behavioral changes, reacting in an inappropriate way, being loud, or acting suspicious
• Noticeably poor hygiene 
• An unsafe or unkept home
• A lack of participation in hobbies that they once enjoyed
• Injuries caused by accidents or carelessness (look for burns or bruises)
• Signs of forgetfulness like not paying bills, missing appointments, or losing items

Health care providers have activities of daily living checklists that they use to assess you or your loved one. These checklists can help in deciding the best type of support needed. 

One of the most popular checklists is the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, or the Katz ADL scale. This scale looks at six basic ADLs: 

• Feeding
• Toileting
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Continence
• Transferring

The other most commonly used activities of daily living checklist is the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale. This scale is used to measure your ability to perform iADLs covering eight different categories: 

• Household chores
• Shopping
• Using the phone
• Money management
• Food preparation
• Laundry
• Transportation (not including walking) 
• Taking medication correctly

Other assessments providers may use include the Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living checklist. This assessment looks at the same skills as the Katz ADL Scale, plus mobility, climbing stairs and grooming. The Klein-Bell Activities of Daily Living Scale (K-B Scale) measures dressing, eating, elimination, emergency communication, mobility, bathing and hygiene. 

Two more specialized checklists are the Cleveland Scale for Activities of Daily Living (CSADL) checklist and the Bristol Scale (BADLS). The CSADL list is used for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. The BADLS list is for people with dementia. 

While you may think you can use these checklists yourself, it is important to speak with a health care provider about ADL assessments. These professionals can point you in the right direction regarding care.

Assisted living facilities (ALFs) can be an excellent option for those who need help performing ADLs. Residents often have their own room or an apartment. There are also common areas for socializing and planned group activities. While ALFs don’t provide as much care as a nursing home, residents do receive more support than an independent living facility. 

Some of the types of care provided in ALFs include:

• Assistance with ADLs such as bathing and using the bathroom
• Services such as laundry and housekeeping
• Medication management
• Transportation
• Planned outings and recreational activities
• Prepared meals

There may also be an onsite salon, fitness center, activity center, communal dining room, or a place of worship. 

Assisted living facilities can offer different levels of care, and pricing is adjusted according to care received. Services vary by location, as ALFs are regulated by each state. 

If you or your loved one lives with Alzheimer’s or dementia, a memory care community may be more appropriate than assisted living. 

While illness or advanced age can make activities of daily living a challenge for you or your loved one, support is available. Assisted living facilities provide care for those who need help performing ADLs. These facilities can also offer a sense of community and encourage a positive quality of life.

• Activities of Daily Living. (2024). ClevelandClinic.org. 
• Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) and Medicaid. (2023). American Council on Aging
• Edemekong, Peter. F., et al. (2023). Activities of Daily Living. National Library of Medicine
• Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale. Merckmanuals.com.
• Long-Term care facilities: Assisted living, nursing homes, and other residential care. (2023). National Institute on Aging
• Van Dis, Kate. (2024). What is assisted living? National Council on Aging
• What are Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living? (2022). UDS Foundation