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.

2. • 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

3. • 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