Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Checklist and Examples | Pacific Angels Home Care (2024)

Article Posted On: Nov 29, 2021 • Last updated on: Nov 30, 2021 at 9:31 am • Author: Grace Newman

Activities of daily living are the daily tasks that we do to take care of ourselves. These are things like bathing or eating that most people take for granted, but these tasks become more difficult as we grow older.

According to the CDC, 11.6% of adults 75 years old and above have limitations with their activities of daily living (ADLs), and 19.4% need help with their instrumental activities of daily living (IDALs).

Before we can get our loved ones the help they need, we must first understand what activities of daily living are and the types of assistance are available.

What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?

The basic activities of daily living (ADLs) can be defined as the fundamental skills required to care for yourself and remain independent. Like the name implies, these tasks are done every day. These are sometimes referred to as functional activities of daily living.

The exact list of ADLs can vary depending on what assessment you use. Some of the most common are discussed below.

Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (6 ADLs)

Dr. Sidney Katz coined the term activities of daily living in 1950. Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living is one the most commonly used assessments today.

According to Katz, the six activities of daily living are:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Toileting (getting on the toilet, using the toilet, and cleaning themself)
• Transferring (moving in and out of bed/chairs)
• Continence (controlling bladder and bowel function)
• Feeding (does not include meal preparation)

5 Activities of Daily Living

Some organizations combine toileting and continence. This makes the 5 Activities of Daily Living:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Transferring
• Toileting (controlling bladder and bowel function, getting on the toilet, and cleaning themself)
• Feeding

Activities of Daily Living List

Many organizations also consider broader hygiene tasks and mobility basic activities of daily living. The addition of these tasks makes the simplest Activities of Daily Living list consist of:

• Mobility: A person’s ability to move around and walk.
• Dressing: A person’s ability to select appropriate clothes and dress/undress.
• Personal hygiene: A person’s ability to bathe/shower, groom, and brush their teeth.
• Toileting: A person’s ability to control their bladder and bowel function, get to and use the toilet, and clean themselves.
• Eating: A person’s ability to feed themselves.
• Transfers: A person’s ability to move in and out of bed/chairs.

What are Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)?

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) can be defined as the complex tasks required to live independently. These require more cognitive and organizational skills.

Lawton and Brody developed the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale in 1969 to assess the skills that are required to live independently.

Examples of instrumental activities of daily livings are as follows:

• Food preparation: A person’s ability to plan and prepare meals, including cooking and cleaning up.
• Managing Medications: A person’s ability to get their medicine and take the correct doses at the correct time.
• Shopping: A person’s ability to shop for their necessities, including groceries.
• Communication with others: A person’s ability to use a telephone, go through and send mail, and/or email and use the internet.
• Managing Finances: A person’s ability to handle their money, including monitoring their income and expenses and paying their bills.
• Housekeeping: A person’s ability to clean their home, such as washing dishes or dusting.
• Transportation: A person’s ability to either drive, arrange for transportation, or use public transportation.
• Laundry: A person’s ability to wash and dry their clothes.

Activities of Daily Living Checklist / Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Checklist

Activities of Daily Living assess a person’s functional level. Their level of independence is determined by whether they can perform their ADLs without assistance.

Go through this checklist of ADLs and IADLs and mark what level of assistance is required for each task.

Download and print out a copy of this checklist for you and your family here.

What do Activities of Daily Living measure?

Sometimes people’s pride or lack of objectivity can cause them to not be realistic about their capability to manage their activities of daily living.

If this is the case, you may need to determine if they need assistance by looking for signs that these tasks are not being managed.

Some examples of activities of daily living include:

• Inappropriate clothing, a sign they have trouble dressing
• Body odor or greasy hair could indicate difficulty bathing
• Lack of food in the house can mean they are not able to go shopping or arrange transportation.

Talk to your loved one and use your best judgment to help you assess their functional level.

Types of Assistance with ADLs

People can get help with activities of daily living from either assistive devices and/or by hiring caregivers.

Activities of Daily Living Aids

There are assistive devices to help with most ADLs. Below are some commonly used aids to help with activities of daily living.

Mobility:

• Walkers
• Canes
• Wheelchairs
• Ramps
• Electric rising chairs
• Stairlifts
• Bed rails

Dressing:

• Dressing sticks
• Non-tie shoelaces or velcro shoes
• Button hooks
• Zipper pulls
• Sock or pantyhose aids
• Long-handled shoe horns
• Reaching tools

Bathing / Showering:

• Shower chairs
• Grab bars
• Bathtub transfer bench
• Handheld shower head
• Pumps for shampoo and body wash

Grooming:

• Long handle combs or brushes

Toileting:

• Adult diapers
• Commodes
• Toilet seat risers

Eating:

• Universal cuff
• Utensils with large handles
• Cups with two handles
• Long straws
• Scoop dish
• Plate guard

Managing Medication:

• Pillbox organizers
• Alarms
• Pill cutters
• Pill crushers

Shopping:
Most items can now be delivered if going to the store proves difficult.

Communication:

• Phones that are modified, such as being voice-operated or having larger buttons
• Headsets
• Hearing aids
• Screen readers
• Computers with special software

Transportation:
There are many types of vehicle modifications, such as wheelchair lifts or transfer seats. Seniors also have a wide variety of transportation options.

Home Care

Assistive technology may not be enough to allow your loved one to perform their activities of daily living on their own. If your loved one wants to remain independent in their own home but requires assistance with activities of daily living, home care can be a great option.

Home care providers tailor their services to each person’s individual needs.

Our caregivers can help people with their ADLs, including helping with eating, bathing, grooming, dressing, going to the bathroom, and moving around.

They can also help with their instrumental activities of daily living by driving your loved one around, helping with shopping, ensuring medication compliance, and doing meal preparation, housekeeping, and laundry.

For those in the Monterey Bay or Santa Cruz area, give us a call today at (831) 708-2876 or reach us online to find out more about our personal care services!