Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) & Instrumental Activities (IADLs)

Описание: The so-called "Activities of Daily Living," or ADLs, have to do with fundamental life-sustaining tasks and were first articulated by Dr. Sidney Katz in the 1950s & 1960s. They have subsequently become the standard way of assessing a person's abilities to take care of themselves.

There are different lists, but one of the most commonly used enumerates six (6) such activities.

6 ADLs:
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(1) Bathing youself
(2) Dressing yourself
(3) Feeding yourself
(4) Toileting by yourself
(5) Transferring (e.g., in and out of bed) by yourself
(6) Controlling bladder and bowel functions (maintaining continence)

An alternative list is often presented using the mnemonic "D.E.A.T.H.": Dressing, Eating, Ambulating, Toileting (or Transferring), and Hygiene.

In this presentation, I go a little more in depth into each of the activities. The words are essentially shorthand for collections of basic tasks that able-bodies and compos mentis individuals largely take for granted.

Along the way I present a few conceptual difficulties that attend the definition and use of the ADLs.

A related category is the "Instrumental Activities of Daily Living," or IADLs. These are higher-level functions that are relevant to discussions of overall quality of life, fulfillment, and well being.

Sometimes, examples of these instrumental abilities are remembered with the word "S.H.A.F.T.": Shopping, Housework, Accounting, Food preparation, and Transportation.

Other higher-level activities -- like communicating and socializing -- are sometimes included in longer lists.

Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of cognitive impairment essentially strip people of higher-level functions (or IADLs) first, and then -- if the person lives long enough -- reduce sufferers to a state in which they can no longer even perform the basic ADLs.

These lists are relevant both to impairment diagnosis, long-term-care-insurance eligibility / qualifications, and the selection and ability to reside in certain care facilities. (Assisted-living and independent-living homes have different standards and rules for acceptable levels of functionality.)

Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare or medical expert; specifically, I am neither a doctor nor a therapist. This video is solely intended for general informational or entertainment purposes. Information is presented in good faith, but as-is, without guarantees or warranties or any kind regarding its accuracy. Nothing herein should be construed as providing any diagnosis or treatment recommendations, and no part of the presentation ought to be taken as providing healthcare, long-term-care, medical, or any other sort of advice. If you need personalized consultations or evaluations, consult a licensed professional in your area.

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