Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

Basic ADLs

The basic activities of daily living consist of these self-care tasks:

  • Bathing
  • Dressing and undressing
  • Eating
  • Transferring from bed to chair, and back
  • Voluntarily control urinary and fecal discharge
  • Using the toilet
  • Walking (not bedridden)

Instrumental ADLs

Instrumental activities of daily living are not necessary for fundamental functioning, but enable the individual to live independently within a community:

  •  Light housework
  • Preparing meals
  • Taking medications
  • Shopping for groceries or clothes
  • Using the telephone
  • Managing money

Occupational therapists also evaluate IADLs when completing patient assessments. These include 11 areas of IADLs that are generally optional in nature, and can be delegated to others:

  • Care of others (including selecting and supervising caregivers)
  • Care of pets
  • Child rearing
  • Communication device use
  • Community mobility
  • Financial management
  • Health management and maintenance
  • Meal preparation and cleanup
  • Safety procedures and emergency responses
  • Shopping