Developed by the pioneering American physician Sidney Katz and his partner Benjamin Rose, the Activities of Daily Living index details all the common and basic tasks people perform every day to lead an independent life. The index includes three different categories, which are termed Activities of Daily Living (Personal Care), Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (Lifestyle Support), and Domestic Activities of Daily Living (Activity Assistance). These are used to assess the residents’ ability to care for themselves without assistance and supervision before entering the living community to determine the extent of personal care, support, and help they would require.
These terms are categorized according to the level of independence and function that the individual is able to perform, with Domestic Activities of Daily Living being the highest functioning activities we can do, such as socializing, pursuing hobbies, and doing exercises. Instrumental Activities refer to the moderate functioning tasks we do that are not essential to fundamental living but are crucial for living in a community, such as shopping for groceries and running errands. Finally, Activities of Daily Living are basic functioning tasks that we do that are vital for good quality of independent life, such as bathing and toileting.
Domestic Activities of Daily Living
This would be the first domain of activities and tasks that many aging individuals will lose their ability to do when their cognitive abilities decline. These activities are essential in helping us maintain a healthy, enriching, and high quality of life. They are also used to assess the level of assistance that the resident would require while performing these tasks. Many who are able to complete this list of activities and tasks can usually lead an active and independent lifestyle without any help. The tasks and activities include:
- Caring for family members
- Caring for pets
- Community participation
- Dexterity and motor skills
- Intellectual capacity – mental exercise
- Physical ability – Light and exertive exercises
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
While they are not essential for daily functioning, these tasks are crucial for the individual’s ability to lead a good quality of life and live independently while still taking care of themselves and their family members. The physical therapists or physician evaluates these tasks to measure the level of assistance they require in performing them and their level of cognitive function. The major categories of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living include cooking, transportation, cleaning, laundry, and being able to manage their finances:
- Preparing meals and cooking
- Medication management
- Buying groceries
- Money and finance management
- Being able to use phones
- Cleaning and housekeeping chores
- Driving and navigating public transport
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
These comprise personal care tasks essential for basic functioning that younger individuals can complete without difficulty. Those who are unable to meet these important tasks satisfactorily will experience a poorer quality of life and cannot live independently. Therefore, before a resident is admitted into a living community, their ability to perform these routines is being tested and assessed to provide insights on the type of care they would require. The seven basic tasks of Activities of Daily Living include:
- Bathing and/or Showering
- Toileting
- Dressing
- Personal Hygiene
- Eating
- Ambulation and Mobility
- Emergency Responses
Free and Independent Living at The Welstone At Mission Crossing
The Welstone at Mission Crossing is committed to providing you the means to live a healthy, independent, and active lifestyle with stylish, spacious, and resort-style living spaces. We take pride in offering our residents the freedom to participate in enriching programs and activities that help keep their mental and physical health stimulated and engaged. Our dedicated team members are committed to providing residents their assistance where they require it and are eager to partner with you to create a positive and long-lasting relationship.
