The ADL medical abbreviation stands for activities of daily living, the everyday self care tasks a person does to look after their own body, such as bathing, dressing and eating. In the plural it is usually written ADLs.
You will find ADLs in therapy notes, nursing assessments, discharge plans and forms for home care or long term care. They give the whole team a shared, practical picture of how much help someone needs. As a medical acronym, ADL is read letter by letter, and its meaning is the same in a hospital, a rehab gym or a home visit. This page lists the tasks that count, explains how they differ from instrumental activities, and decodes the help levels that appear next to the term.
At a glance
Stands for
Activities of daily livingPlural or forms
ADL, ADLs, basic ADLs (BADLs)Related term
IADLs, instrumental activities of daily livingWhere you see it
Therapy notes, nursing assessments, discharge plans, care formsSpecialty
Occupational therapy, nursing, geriatrics, rehab, home healthDo not confuse with
AMA or other chart shorthand that also starts with A
Which tasks count as ADLs
Basic activities of daily living are the care tasks most adults do for themselves every day without thinking about them. Lists vary a little between tools, but the core set is the same almost everywhere.
- Bathing, including getting in and out of the tub or shower
- Dressing, choosing clothes and putting them on
- Toileting, getting to the toilet and cleaning afterward
- Transferring, moving from bed to chair or chair to standing
- Continence, control of bladder and bowel
- Feeding, getting food from the plate to the mouth
Grooming tasks such as brushing teeth, shaving and combing hair are often included as well. Walking or moving around the home is sometimes listed with transfers.
ADLs versus IADLs
Instrumental activities of daily living, or IADLs, are the more complex tasks needed to live on your own in the community. They take planning, memory and judgment as well as physical ability, so they are often the first to slip when someone becomes ill or frail.
| Basic ADLs | Instrumental IADLs |
|---|---|
| Bathing and grooming | Shopping for food and supplies |
| Dressing | Cooking and preparing meals |
| Toileting and continence | Managing medicines |
| Transferring | Handling money and bills |
| Feeding | Housework, laundry, using the phone, getting around town |
How the ADL medical abbreviation appears with help levels
ADL is rarely written alone. It usually comes with a word that says how much help the person needs. Therapists and nurses use a fairly standard ladder of terms.
| Phrase | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Independent with ADLs | Does the tasks safely without help |
| Set up only | Needs items placed within reach, then manages alone |
| Supervision or SBA | Someone stands by to watch or cue, without touching |
| Min assist | Does most of the task, needs a little hands-on help |
| Mod assist | Does about half, needs a moderate amount of help |
| Max assist or dependent | Needs help with most or all of the task |
An occupational therapy note: "Pt requires mod A for lower body dressing, set up for grooming, goal independent with ADLs before discharge home." The person can manage face and hair once supplies are ready, needs real help putting on pants and shoes, and therapy is working toward full independence.
Why ADLs matter for care decisions
ADL status helps the team decide where a person can safely go after a hospital stay. Someone independent with ADLs may go straight home, while a person who needs a lot of help might go home with support, to rehab, or to a skilled nursing facility. Changes over time also matter. A drop in self care can be an early sign of illness, a medicine side effect or memory changes.
Insurance plans, home health agencies and long term care programs often ask about ADLs on their forms, because the answers describe care needs in a consistent way.
Charting ADLs as a nursing abbreviation
Nursing and therapy students document ADLs during admission, each shift and before discharge. Good charting names the task and the level, rather than writing a vague phrase. Compare "ADLs ok" with "independent with feeding and grooming, min assist with bathing." The second line tells the next nurse exactly what to expect.
ADLs often appear alongside OOB orders, fall risk notes and OT plans. For a wider set of daily charting shorthand, see the nursing abbreviations list.
This explains a common care term in general. Questions about how much help you or a relative need at home are best answered by the care team, therapist or nurse who knows the situation.
Frequently asked questions
What does ADLs mean in medical terms?
ADLs means activities of daily living. These are basic self care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence and feeding.
What is the difference between ADLs and IADLs?
ADLs are basic self care tasks. IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are more complex tasks such as cooking, shopping, managing medicines and handling money that let a person live on their own.
Who assesses ADLs?
Nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists and doctors all look at ADLs. Occupational therapists in particular focus on helping people regain these skills.
What does independent with ADLs mean?
It means the person can do their basic self care safely without help from another person. They may still use equipment such as a shower chair or grab bars.