Activities of Daily Living

Activities of Daily Living (ADL) is a healthcare term used to refer to the basic activities performed by a person on a daily basis necessary independent living at home or in the community. ADL includes:

personal hygiene
dressing
eating
toileting
simple exercise
transferring a patient safely

Read more about Activities of Daily Living on the Agency for Integrated Care website.

Personal hygiene

To keep someone clean, you can help them to:

wash their hands after going to the toilet
wash their lower body every day
wash their face every day
have a bath or shower
brush their teeth daily
keep their nails short and clean

Helping someone to bathe

For most people, bathing is a very private activity. To make bathing comfortable for the person you're helping, you can set up a shower routine and be consistent about the:

time of shower
temperature of water
type and preference of shower gels
method of washing

You can try to explain the steps patiently and clearly as you go along, and be sensitive to the person's mood.

To prevent injury, make sure that the floor is not slippery. Wait for the bathroom floor to dry or consider installing anti-slip mats or tiles in the bathroom.

For people who are confined to bed due to medical conditions, you can try a bed bath or a towel bath. Read more about how to help someone with bathing in Activities of Daily Living.

Dressing

When helping someone to wear clothes, you can try asking them how they would prefer to be dressed and allow them as much independence as you think it is safe.

Helping someone to dress can be made easier with a routine. You can try to:

lay the clothes in order before you begin
dress the person while they are seated
use loose clothes that are easy to put on (e.g. clothing with elastic waistbands, velcro fasteners and front openings)
use bras that open and close in the front
dress from the person's weaker side first

When dressing someone who is confined to bed, use a gown that closes in the back. This will make it easier when using a bedpan or urinal.

Eating

If you're a caregiver, try to make sure the person you care for eats and drinks well. Meals can be taken together with the family if it is not too distracting for the person you're caring for.

To help someone with eating, you can

allow 30 to 45 minutes for mealtimes
keel the meal presentations simple
make sure all items are ready to eat and within reach
provide a comfortable table and chair
reduce excess noise from the TV and radio to avoid distractions
help the person to sit up straight during the meal and for at least 30 minutes after the meal

If the person you're caring for has poor vision, you can try to place the food in the same spots on the plate every time.

Feeding someone in bed

If you are helping to feed someone in bed, you can try to:

prop the person's head up with pillows
provide an over-the-bed table
cut the food into bite-size portions
fill the cups with water only halfway
encourage the person to hold the cup if they can

If the person you're caring for has difficulty with cups or cutlery, there is available eating aids, such as no-spill cups or easy-to-handle knives and forks.

For more caregiving tips, read more about how to help someone with eating in Activities of Daily Living.

Toileting

Being able to use the toilet independently is important for a person's dignity. As the person that you're taking care of becomes more ill or weak, you may have to help them to use the toilet.

Depending on the needs of the person you're caring for, you may be helping them to:

use the bathroom toilet
toilet in bed
use a bedpan or urinal
use a commode
manage a urinary catheter

Speak to a nurse or a doctor and they can advise you about suitable equipment that can help with the toileting needs of the person you're caring for. Some of the available toileting aids are:

a commode, which is a chair that comes with an attached potty
a urinary catheter, which is a device made from rubber or plastic that drains urine from the body – it is inserted by a nurse through the urethra into the bladder

Always wear disposable gloves when helping with toileting. This prevents the spread of diseases. It is important wash your hands before and after providing care.

For more caregiving tips, read more about how to help someone with toileting in Activities of Daily Living.

Simple exercise

If the person you're caring for is confined to spend most of their time in bed, you can help them with simple exercises to maintain their general health.

For more caregiver tips, you can watch a video on:

Help and support for ADL

If you're finding it difficult to cope with managing the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) for your loved one, you can apply for assistance in Home Personal Care to help with your caregiving duties.

You can get a referral from a hospital, polyclinic or doctor who is familiar with the patient's condition and needs, or visit an AICare Link near you.

If you require financial assistance for these services, speak to your healthcare team or a medical social worker in the hospital or polyclinic.