What are Activities of Daily Living?

We’ve all heard the term but what does it really mean? The Activities of Daily Living (or ADLs) are the things we do every day: getting out of bed, going to the bathroom, taking a shower, brushing our teeth, dressing, eating, interacting with others, talking on the phone, getting in and out of a chair, taking medication, driving, and the list goes on.

When we’re young, and healthy we don’t give these activities a second thought. It’s only when we can no longer do some or all these things that we get concerned. When this happens; life changes for everyone. We are concerned with our quality of life, our independence, our future. Our spouse usually assumes the role of the caregiver with all the additional responsibilities and worries that entails. Our family members start talking about assisted living or even nursing homes for us. All these things come into play when the ability to perform the activities of daily living is impaired. READ MORE...