Which of the following is not an Activity of Daily Living, but an Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL)?

• A. Bathing
• B. Meal prep
• C. Dressing
• D. Toileting

Answer: (B)

Distinguishing between Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living helps assess independence. ADLs are basic self-care tasks essential for daily functioning, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and basic feeding. IADLs are more complex activities that enable living independently, like planning and preparing meals, shopping, managing medications, finances, transportation, and housekeeping.

Meal preparation involves not just handling food, but planning, following safety practices in the kitchen, using appliances, and organizing tasks. These skills require more cognitive planning and problem-solving than pure self-care, so meal preparation is classified as an Instrumental Activity of Daily Living. Bathing, dressing, and toileting are examples of ADLs, basic self-care tasks.