AD….What? You may have heard this term being tossed around a few times, and wondered what it means. We did too. Well have no fear because were here to demystify ADLs! The term was coined by Sidney Katz, MD back in 1950.
The term is used to describe the basic needs of a human being to care for themselves. The most common ADL’s are;
| ADL | Description |
| Ambulating | How well can they move form place to place? |
| Feeding | Are they able to feed themselves? |
| Dressing | Are they able to get dressed? |
| Personal hygiene | Are they able to maintain basic hygiene? |
| Continence | Are they able to voluntarily hold their urine and stool? |
| Toileting | Are they able to go to and from the bathroom without help? |
Each ADL is independently important as it can greatly affect quality of life. Lets say that I’m having issues ambulating, this greatly reduces my ability to get around, and lead an independent life. Based on this knowledge I would seek products, and services to help address my reduced ambulation. This may include physical therapy, orthopedics, canes, wheelchairs, and scooters.
A proper ADL assessment is vital to getting the appropriate level care, without being overbearing. Being mindful of ADL’s can help you, and your loved one stay focused on the needs that matter most. Addressing each ADL will help your loved one overcome challenges, and lead a healthier more fulfilling life. Check out our article on caregiver well being for more on care-giving.
We hope this helped de-mystify the basic ADL’s. Next up we will discuss the Instrumental ADLs!
References:
- Edemekong PF, Bomgaars DL, Sukumaran S, et al. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) [Updated 2020 Jun 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470404/