Definition: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

• Physical ADLs:
• Bathing: The act of cleaning the body, including bathing, showering, or sponge bathing.
• Dressing: The process of putting on clothes, socks, shoes, and other personal garments.
• Grooming: Personal hygiene activities such as brushing teeth, combing hair, or applying makeup.
• Toileting: Using the toilet, including transferring to and from the toilet, maintaining personal hygiene, and managing incontinence.
• Transferring: Moving from one position to another, such as getting in and out of a bed, chair, or wheelchair.
• Mobility: Moving around independently, including walking, using aids like crutches or walkers, or operating a wheelchair.
• Cognitive ADLs:
• Eating: The ability to feed oneself, from cutting or opening food containers to using utensils.
• Continence: Having control over bladder and bowel functions, including the ability to use the bathroom in a timely manner and manage incontinence.
• Communication: The capacity to express oneself effectively, understand and comprehend others, and use various modes of communication.