16 Mar Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
What Are the Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s)
Activities of daily living, also referred to as ADL’s, refer to the basic activities that must be performed on a day-to-day basis. This term is most often used in healthcare to refer to the activities a patient must engage in every day in order to remain independent. Some examples include feeding oneself, bathing, and dressing.
What are the daily activities of living?
The activities of daily living are defined as anything that a person does on a daily basis to sustain healthy human life. They include, but aren’t limited to:
- Eating
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Cooking
- Brushing teeth
- Getting in and out of bed or a chair
- Maintaining bladder and bowel control
ADL’s may also include leisure activities, like knitting, reading, or even turning the channel on a television remote.
ADL’s as a measurement of a patient’s functional status
Activities of daily living apply to people of all ages, and it isn’t uncommon for people to need assistance with ADL’s. For example, young children often need assistance from parents to complete basic everyday activities.
However, ADL’s are most often used as a way to measure a patient’s functional status. Doctors can determine if a surgical patient is able to return home after a procedure based on their ability to complete ADL’s without assistance, and insurance companies may use ADL’s as an indication that a senior requires assistance in the home.
If a patient is unable to complete at least two vital ADL’s without assistance, some kind of long-term care will likely be recommended.
Help with ADL’s
There are a number of ways a patient can receive help with ADL’s. For seniors who want to remain independent in the home, a private duty caregiver may be an option to help with everyday activities, like meal preparation.
If more skilled care is needed, a patient can look into skilled nursing. A nurse can help with wound care, monitor vital signs, and reteach basic skills after a procedure.
In some cases, long-term care may be required to complete ADL’s, and in other cases, assistance may only be recommended while a patient recovers from a procedure or an illness.