What are activities of daily living (ADLs)?
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are basic self-care tasks-bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating, and managing continence-used to evaluate care needs and assistance levels in memory care facilities.
The term "activities of daily living" refers to six core self-care functions that form the foundation of care assessments in memory care and assisted living settings. These six ADLs are bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (moving from bed to chair or standing), eating, and managing continence. Care staff evaluate a resident's ability to perform each task independently or with prompting, assistance, or full care.
In Greater New Haven memory care communities, ADL assessments determine both the level of support a resident requires and often influence pricing tiers. A resident who needs reminders or partial help with dressing and bathing may qualify for one care level, while someone requiring full assistance with multiple ADLs may need a higher tier of service. This evaluation occurs during intake and is revisited regularly as cognitive decline progresses.
Families and prospective residents review ADL requirements when exploring memory care options, as these benchmarks clarify what hands-on assistance the facility will provide. Understanding ADL categories helps households make informed decisions about when a memory care setting becomes appropriate and what to expect from day-to-day support.