ADL stands for "Activities of Daily Living" and is a term used to describe fundamental skills required to independently care for oneself. These activities include tasks related to personal care such as feeding oneself, bathing, dressing, grooming, work, homemaking, and leisure. The inability to perform ADLs results in the dependence of other individuals and/or mechanical devices, which may lead to unsafe conditions and poor quality of life. Measurement of an individuals ADL is important as these are predictors of admission to nursing homes, need for alternative living arrangements, hospitalization, and use of paid home care. The outcome of a treatment program can also be assessed by reviewing a patients ADLs.

ADLs are used as a very practical measure of ability/disability in many disorders. They are important for older adults as difficulties with ADLs and IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) often correspond to how much help, supervision, and hands-on care an older person needs. The Basic ADLs include eating, bathing, dressing, continence, using the restroom, and transferring (the ability to move oneself).

In summary, ADLs are a set of fundamental skills required to independently care for oneself, including tasks related to personal care such as feeding oneself, bathing, dressing, grooming, work, homemaking, and leisure. The inability to perform ADLs results in the dependence of other individuals and/or mechanical devices, which may lead to unsafe conditions and poor quality of life. ADLs are used as a very practical measure of ability/disability in many disorders and are important for older adults as difficulties with ADLs and IADLs often correspond to how much help, supervision, and hands-on care an older person needs.