Katz Index of Independence
A standardised functional assessment tool ranking an older adult's independence across six basic activities—bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding.
Full Definition
Developed by Sidney Katz in the 1950s, the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living is one of the oldest and most widely cited functional assessment instruments in geriatric medicine. It produces a hierarchical summary score (A through G, or 0–6 in numeric versions) reflecting cumulative independence, with loss of function typically following a predictable sequence. Editors should note that the instrument is properly titled 'Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living'; shortened forms ('Katz Index' or 'Katz ADL') are acceptable after first full expansion. The Katz Index must not be confused with the Barthel Index, which uses a weighted scoring system and assesses a broader range of tasks. Capitalise all words in the full instrument name.
Usage
Usage note: Use the full instrument name on first reference. 'Katz score' alone is acceptable informally but should be avoided in formal clinical or research documents without the full title or established abbreviation.
In Context
- "At admission, the Katz Index of Independence score was 3/6, indicating moderate dependence across personal care tasks." — Geriatric rehabilitation admission assessment
- "Improvement on the Katz Index from 2 to 5 over four weeks reflected the patient's rapid functional gains following hip replacement." — Rehabilitation outcome report