Activities of Daily Living
Also written as: ADLs — Activities of Daily Living
Routine self-care tasks—such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and toileting—used as benchmarks for functional assessment in rehabilitation.
Full Definition
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) represent the foundational self-care tasks that individuals perform each day, and they serve as primary outcome measures in physical medicine and rehabilitation. In rehabilitation documentation, ADLs are distinguished from Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), which involve more complex tasks such as cooking, managing finances, and using transportation. Editors must ensure the correct abbreviation (ADLs) is used and that context distinguishes between basic ADLs and IADLs. The term appears frequently in functional assessments, discharge planning notes, and insurance authorization documents.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish carefully between ADLs (basic self-care) and IADLs (complex daily tasks). Do not use the terms interchangeably.
In Context
- "The rehabilitation team assessed the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) independently before discharge." — Discharge planning note
- "Deficits in ADLs were documented and addressed through targeted occupational therapy interventions." — Occupational therapy progress note