Both ADLs and IADLs refer to?

• A. Key life tasks that need to be accomplished daily. ADLs are more basic tasks essential to independent living. IADLs are more complex tasks that are still a necessary part of everyday life.
• B. Only medical procedures
• C. Work-related tasks
• D. Hospital-based activities

Answer: (A)

Both ADLs and IADLs describe the everyday tasks people need to perform to live independently. ADLs, or activities of daily living, are the basic self-care tasks essential for daily functioning—things like bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), and maintaining continence. IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are more complex tasks that enable someone to live independently in the community—such as preparing meals, managing finances, handling medications, shopping, using transportation, and doing housework. The distinction helps gauge level of independence: trouble with ADLs signals a need for direct daily assistance, while difficulty with IADLs shows challenges in managing more complex aspects of living on one’s own. These concepts aren’t about medical procedures, work tasks, or hospital activities.