Most of us don't think twice about doing our daily life routines, i.e., getting out of bed, walking to the bathroom, brushing our teeth, and eating breakfast. These simple activities we do without much thought or effort are called Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs.

1. ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
Most of us don't think twice about doing our daily life routines, i.e., getting out of bed, walking
to the bathroom, brushing our teeth, and eating breakfast. These simple activities we do without
much thought or effort are called Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs. In other words,
Activities of Daily Living are basic personal tasks we do in our everyday life.
What are Activities of Daily Living?
Activities of Daily Living are generally grouped into the following categories:
Washing – ability to shower, bath, brush teeth, brush hair, shave
Dressing – ability to select the appropriate outfit, dress and undress
Feeding – ability to feed oneself
Toileting – ability to use the toilet
Transferring – ability to get in and out of bed, on and off a chair,
Mobility – ability to walk, ambulate, propel oneself in a wheelchair
Getting Help
What we take for granted some struggle with doing and require assistance. Difficulty in
performing Activities of Daily Living may be caused by a person’s health, medical condition,
advanced age, or memory loss.
If Activities of Daily Living has become increasingly difficult for you to do on your own, you
may consider getting help. Depending on your level of need, options you may consider are in-home
caregivers, Assisted Living Facilities, or occupational therapy.
Assessing Your Level of Need
To help you determine your level of need, you may use the following chart designed by PBS.org.
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/caringforyourparents/handbook/pdf/cfyp_adl_checklist.pdf