ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
Personal self-care tasks individuals perform daily, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, and mobility. In home care, caregiver assistance with ADLs is the primary service delivered.
Also known as: ADL · BADL · basic ADL · ADL assistance · personal care · self-care activities · functional capacity
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the fundamental self-care tasks required for independent living. Home care caregivers assist clients with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, incontinence care, feeding, and mobility or transfers.
Dependency levels vary: a client may need full assistance (caregiver performs the task entirely) or partial assistance (caregiver helps while the client participates). These distinctions drive care plan task lists, required caregiver skill level, and the scope of authorized services.
ADLs are distinct from IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), which cover more complex tasks like meal preparation, medication management, and household upkeep.
In home care, this means…
Used in intake assessments and care plan development to identify which tasks a client requires assistance with. ADL dependency level is the primary driver of authorized service hours and caregiver skill matching.
Related terms
IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) →
Complex daily tasks that support independent living beyond basic self-care, including meal preparation, medication management, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, and transportation. Often covered under homemaker or companion care services.
Care Plan →
An individualized document specifying a client's care needs, approved service tasks, frequency, duration, and caregiver assignments. It is the operational blueprint for every shift and the legal basis for billing Medicaid and insurance payers.
Assessment →
A structured in-home evaluation of a prospective client's functional, cognitive, and safety status used to build the care plan and determine appropriate service levels. Typically conducted by a care coordinator at the start of service.
Acuity →
A measure of a client's overall care complexity and dependency level, based on ADL limitations, cognitive status, medical equipment needs, and behavioral factors. Higher acuity clients require more skilled caregivers and closer supervisory oversight.
Caregiver →
A trained, non-medical care worker employed to deliver personal care, companionship, or homemaker services to clients in their home. The primary point of service delivery in home care.