Abbreviation: ADL.
Tasks performed by individuals in a typical day that allow independent living. Basic activities of daily living (BADL) include feeding, dressing, hygiene, and physical mobility. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) include more advanced skills such as managing personal finances, using transportation, telephoning, cooking, performing household chores, doing laundry, and shopping.
The ability to perform activities of daily living may be hampered by illness or accident resulting in physical or mental disability. Health care rehabilitation workers play a significant role in teaching individuals to maintain or relearn these skills so that the individual may achieve the highest possible degree of independence.

PATIENT CARE
The nurse and other members of the rehabilitation team, including occupational and physical therapists, assess the patient's ability to perform ADLs. The rehabilitation team instructs and trains the patient in techniques to relearn the skill, or to accommodate for inability to perform the task, with a goal of achieving the maximum possible independence. Where appropriate, family members are involved in the rehabilitation program. Referrals to community agencies are arranged when specific tasks cannot be performed independently.

Activities of Daily Living and Factors Affecting Them

Category	Activities	Affecting Factors
Personal care	Climbing stairs, moving into and out of chair or bed, feeding oneself, opening containers, dressing, using toilet, maintaining hygiene, taking medication	Altered mobility, physical, mental, or emotional illness, elimination problems
Family responsibilities	Shopping, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning, caring for yard, caring for family and pets, managing money	Altered mobility, heavy work schedule, insomnia, physical, mental, or emotional illness
Work or school	Fulfilling work responsibilities or school assignments, getting to and from work or school	Altered mobility, stress, heavy family demands, job dissatisfaction, difficulties in school, physical, mental, or emotional illness
Recreation	Pursuing hobbies and interests, exercising, reading, watching television	Altered mobility, physical, mental, or emotional illness
Socialization	Using the telephone, traveling, visiting family and friends, joining group activities, expressing sexuality	Altered mobility, physical, mental, or emotional illness, relocation

Subentries:
electronic aids to activities of daily living
extended activities of daily living
instrumental activities of daily living