What Are ADLs and IADLs?

ADLs, or activities of daily living, are key tasks that people have to manage to be able to live independently.

ADLs are basic self-care tasks that we typically learn as small children. This includes dressing, eating, moving around, and bathing.

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) defines the following as ADLs:

• Bathing/Showering

• Toileting and toilet hygiene

• Dressing

• Eating and swallowing, self-feeding

• Functional mobility - involves moving from one position or place to another, such as from the bed to the bathroom

• Personal device care - using, cleaning, and maintaining items such as hearing aids, glasses, prosthetics, and glucometers

• Personal hygiene and grooming - caring for hair, skin, nails, and teeth

IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are things we usually learn as teenagers. This is a broad category, including things like managing our finances, shopping, home upkeep, and managing medications.

AOTA defines the following IADLs:

• Care of others, including supervising caregivers

• Care of pets

• Child rearing

• Communication management - sending, receiving, and interpreting information)

• Driving and community mobility - This also includes walking, cycling, taxis, etc.

• Financial management

• Health management and maintenance - Such as physical fitness, nutrition, and medication

• Home establishment and maintenance

• Meal preparation and cleanup

• Religious and spiritual activities

• Safety and emergency maintenance - This includes things like replacing smoke alarm batteries, identifying emergency contacts, and reducing threats to health and safety.

• Shopping