What are activities of daily living?

Activities of Daily Living or ADLs are activities that people do on a daily basis without assistance. These activities are important for maintaining physical and emotional well-being and they include things like bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom, and moving around. ADLs are often used as a measure of a person's ability to care for themselves and they can be a useful tool in determining the level of care someone needs. Some people may need assistance with ADLs due to age, disability, or illness and in these cases support from family members, caregivers, or health care professionals may be necessary.