ADL

The Activities of Daily Living collected by our program give an indication of a patient's ability to function.

Bathing

Either sponge bath, tub bath or shower.

Unassisted

• receives no assistance (gets in and out of tub if tub is the usual means of bathing)

Minor

• receives assistance in bathing only one part of the body (such as the back or leg)

Major

• receives assistance in bathing more than one part of the body (or not bathed)

Dressing

Gets clothes from closets and drawers - including underclothes, outer garments and using fasteners (including braces if worn)

Unassisted

• gets clothes and gets completely dressed without assistance

Minor

• gets clothes and gets dressed without assistance except in tying shoes

Major

• receives assistance in getting clothes or in getting dressed or stays partly or completely undressed

Toiletting

Going to the "toilet room" for bowel movement and urine elimination; cleaning self after elimination, and arranging clothes

Unassisted

• goes to "toilet room", cleans self, and arranges clothes without assistance (may use object for support such as cane, walker, or wheelchair and my manage night bedpan or commode, emptying same in the morning

Minor

• receives assistance in going to "toilet room" or in cleansing self or in arranging clothes after elimination or in use of night bedpan or commode.

Major

• doesn't go to "toilet room" for elimination process

Transfer

Unassisted

• moves in and out of bed as well as in and out of chair without assistance (may be using object for support such as cane or walker)

Minor

• moves in and out of bed or chair with assistance

Major

• doesn't get out of bed

Continence

Unassisted

• controls urination and bowel movement completely by self

Minor

• has occasional "accidents"

Major

• supervision helps keep urine or bowel control; catheter is used, or is incontinent

Discussion

• does the use of a foley from home or within the first 24 hours qualify as Dependant. The KATZ states "Dependant as assistance; incontinent or cathether used (as with the use of a foley).

Feeding

Unassisted

• feeds self without assistance

Minor

• feeds self except for getting assistance in cutting meat or buttering bread

Major

• receives assistance in feeding of is fed partly of completely by using tubes or intravenous fluids.

Discussion

• when a person arrives to the unit within the first 24 hours NPO either for a test or for GI Bleed does this qualify as Dependant? The KATZ says 'Dependant is assistance to eat; does not eat (I interpret this to include NPO); must be fed; fed partly or completely by NG or IV.

Discussion

• any thoughts?

Reference

• Studies of Illness in the Aged: The Index of ADL; a standardized measure of <>ological and Psychological functioning. by Katz S, et al.. Copyright 1963 by the American Medical Association. Reprinted with permission of AMA via the Copyright Clearance Center.

• http://classes.kumc.edu/som/amed900/ExposureSkills/Katz_Index_ADL.htm

• S Katz, TD Downs, HR Cash, RC Grotz, (1970). Index of Activities of Daily Living, The Gerontologist, 1:20-301.