Activities of Daily Living

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are activities that take care of one’s own body (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020). Caregivers take on a new role of assisting with these daily tasks along with ensuring they maintain their own self-care.

The rehabilitation process starts by focusing on activities of daily living and their functional movements to promote and enhance overall function.

ADLs include:

  • Bathing, showering

  • Toileting and toilet hygiene

  • Dressing

  • Eating and swallowing

  • Feeding

  • Functional mobility

  • Personal hygiene and grooming

  • Sexual activity

As individuals advance through ADLs, the goal is to facilitate progression to develop more complex skills to achieve a higher level of functioning through instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), which are activities that aid in daily life within the home and community (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2020).

Use of Adaptive Equipment with ADLs

Adaptive equipment can aid in increased independence with completing and succeeding with various ADL tasks. Promoting the use of specialized equipment supports ongoing rehabilitation at home, reducing dependence on caregivers for routine activities.

  • The device can be used as a commode, shower chair, or tub bench during toileting or bathing tasks.

  • Shower chairs minimize fall risk and conserve energy for increased independence by allowing for sitting while bathing.

  • Grab bars can be utilized in a multitude of areas in the home to decrease risk of falls such as in the shower or by the toilet.

  • The device is used to reach all body parts while minimizing effort and energy.

  • The extended shower hose allows for greater reach and assists with showering while sitting.

  • The raised toilet seat aids in independence with transfers to decrease distance with sitting on regular toilet.

  • The extended handle allows for greater reach while completing toilet hygiene.

  • Built up handles are utilized to increase comfort and reduce fatigue required to hold small objects. Can be used on a variety of items such as:

    • Eating utensils

    • Toothbrush

    • Writing utensils

    • Grooming tools

  • The cuff aids in grip for those with limited hand dexterity or general strength.

  • The device is useful to aid in increasing independence in dressing for those with limited mobility.

  • The device aids in donning and doffing buttons with limited hand dexterity.

  • A reacher can be useful for managing clothing, dressing skills, and reaching items for someone with limited mobility.

  • The device is used to aid in donning sock for those with limited mobility.

  • The knife is used for one handed use or decreased grip to increase independence.