Independent Living Skills

Independent living skills are abilities that are necessary to live safely on one's own, without help from caregivers. The skills needed for independent living can be divided into two categories: Activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Activities of Daily Living

Activities of daily living (ADL) are the things we normally do on a daily basis, including any daily activity we perform for self-care.^[1] These are tasks that are absolutely necessary for someone to live independently. The following are examples of ADLs.^[2]

Bathing

Dressing and undressing

Eating

Transferring from bed to chair, and back

Voluntarily control of urinary and fecal discharge

Using the toilet

Walking (not bedridden)

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are not absolutely necessary for fundamental functioning, but they allow an individual to live independently within a community. The following are the six IADLs.^[3]

Light housework

Preparing meals

Taking medications

Shopping for groceries or clothes

Using the telephone

Managing money

References:

1. MedicineNet.com. (October 21, 1998). Definition of ADLs (activities of daily living). Retrieved June 17, 2009, from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2152.

2. McDowell, Ian and Newell, Claire. Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires, second edition. Oxford University Press, 1996.

3. Bookman, Ann, Harrington, Mona, Pass, L, and Reisner, Elizabeth. Family Caregiver Handbook. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007.

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