Activities of Daily Living

The activities performed in the course of a normal day, such as eating, using the bathroom, dressing, bathing, brushing one’s teeth and moving from one room to another, are called Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Scientific studies have shown that the regular, routine performance of ADL not only improve the quality of a person’s life but also help them to live longer.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) include more advanced skills such as cooking, performing household chores, doing laundry, driving or using public transportation, using the telephone, shopping, managing personal finances, and managing medicationsThe ability to perform ADLs and IADLs may be compromised by a variety of causes, including chronic illnesses and serious accidents. The limitations may be temporary or permanent. Rehabilitation may involve relearning old skills or devising new ways to perform ADL’s or IADL’s. Diamond Care rehabilitation workers excel at teaching our clients how to maintain and re-learn ADLs and IADLs so that they can be as independent as possible.