Activities of daily living, or ADLs, are the everyday tasks people do to look after themselves and their lives. Occupational therapists group them into types so they can describe what a person manages, where they need help and what support might make a difference. The two main types are basic ADLs and instrumental ADLs. Some reports and funding forms also use terms such as domestic ADLs and community ADLs.
This guide explains each type with examples, what it means to be "independent with ADLs", and how an OT assessment uses these categories.
Basic ADLs (personal activities of daily living)
Basic ADLs, sometimes called personal ADLs, are the core self-care tasks most people do every day. They usually include:
- Bathing or showering.
- Dressing and undressing.
- Toileting and continence care.
- Eating, meaning getting food from the plate to the mouth.
- Grooming, such as brushing teeth and hair.
- Transfers and mobility, such as getting in and out of bed or moving around the home.
Difficulty with basic ADLs often has a direct effect on safety and dignity, so they are a key part of any functional assessment.
Instrumental ADLs
Instrumental ADLs (IADLs) are the more complex tasks that support living independently. They usually involve planning, organisation and interacting with the wider world. Common examples include:
- Preparing meals.
- Shopping for food and household items.
- Cleaning, laundry and household maintenance.
- Managing money and paying bills.
- Managing medication.
- Using the phone, computer or other communication tools.
- Using transport or driving.
A person can be fully independent with basic ADLs yet need significant help with instrumental ADLs. For example, someone may shower and dress without help but no longer manage cooking, shopping or paperwork after a stroke, a change in memory or a mental health condition.
Domestic and community ADLs
Some reports split instrumental ADLs into narrower groups:
- Domestic ADLs are tasks inside the home, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry and household organisation.
- Community ADLs are tasks outside the home, such as shopping, banking, attending appointments and using transport.
The terms help a report show exactly where support is needed. Funding bodies such as the NDIS often want this level of detail.
Productivity and leisure
OT models often look beyond self-care to two further areas of everyday occupation. Productivity includes paid work, volunteering, study, caring for others and running a household. Leisure covers hobbies, social activities and things a person enjoys. These areas matter because a good life involves more than completing self-care, and they are often central to NDIS goals.
What does "independent with ADLs" mean?
In OT reports, "independent" usually means the person completes a task safely and within a reasonable time without help from another person. It may include using equipment. Other common descriptions include:
- Supervision or prompting: someone needs to be present, or to remind or cue the person.
- Set-up: someone prepares items before the person completes the task.
- Physical assistance: someone helps with part or all of the task.
A person's level can vary by task, time of day and fatigue, so a good assessment records this variation rather than a single label.
How an OT assesses ADLs
An activities of daily living assessment usually combines an interview, observation of agreed tasks in the person's home and a look at the environment and equipment. The OT records what the person can do, what they find difficult and what helps. Recommendations may include equipment, strategies, home changes or support hours.
Our earlier article, what are ADLs in aged care, focuses on older people living at home.
Common questions
What is the difference between ADLs and IADLs?
ADLs are basic self-care tasks; IADLs are more complex tasks that support living independently, such as cooking, shopping and managing money.
Is "ADL's" spelled with an apostrophe?
The standard plural is "ADLs", without an apostrophe. You will see both forms in practice.
Why do funding reports list ADL categories?
Clear categories show where support is needed, helping the funding body understand how a person's needs relate to the supports requested.
Make a referral if you need an ADL assessment at home, with the address and the tasks you would like the OT to look at.