Daily Living
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are routine activities that people tend to do every day without needing assistance. We often don’t even think of them as ‘activities’.
There are six basic areas of ADLs:
- Eating & preparing food
- Bathing
- Dressing & grooming
- Toilet hygiene (getting to the toilet, cleaning oneself, and getting back up)
- Functional mobility (moving from one place to another while doing tasks)
- Managing memory and schedule for daily tasks
For many people with disabilities, any or all of these daily routines can be challenging. There are devices and strategies that can help increase independence and/or efficiency with these tasks. Occupational Therapists are trained to help problem-solve many of these activities.
In the AT Lab
A variety of daily living tools are available in the AT Lab that you may explore during Open Hours or during a personal Consultation. Examples of basic tools in the Lab include: a variety of pencil grips; eating and cooking utensils; time management apps; task lighting for those with low vision; ‘Smart home’ devices such as the Amazon Echo; and ‘light tech’ daily schedules.
Additional Resources
Performance Health (formerly Patterson Medical and Sammons Preston)