Activities of daily living

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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.

[edit] 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)

[edit] 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

[edit] 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).

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "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
  2. ^ MedicineNet.com Medical Dictionary
  3. ^ National Center for Health Statistics
  4. ^ McDowell, I., and Newell, C. (1996). Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires, 2nd edition. New York: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Bookman, A., Harrington, M., Pass, L., & Reisner, E. (2007). Family Caregiver Handbook. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  6. ^ "Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process." American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56, 609-637
  7. ^ Katz ADL scale
  8. ^ Lawton IADL scale
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