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What are ADLs and IADLs, and what do changes mean?

ADLs are basic self-care tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet and moving around. IADLs are the tasks that let someone live independently, such as managing money and medications, shopping, cooking, housekeeping, using the phone and getting around town. A change in either is worth a calm conversation, and a doctor can help work out what it means.

Updated October 2026.

The short version

  • ADLs: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, moving around.
  • IADLs: money, medications, shopping, cooking, housekeeping, phone, transport.
  • A pattern of changes matters more than one bad day.
  • Ask gently; do not quiz or test.
  • A doctor can say what a change means.

The two lists

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are the basics of looking after yourself:

  • Bathing and grooming
  • Dressing
  • Eating
  • Using the toilet
  • Getting in and out of a bed or chair, and moving around

Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are the tasks that let a person run their own life:

  • Managing money and paying bills
  • Taking medications
  • Shopping and cooking
  • Housekeeping and laundry
  • Using the phone
  • Getting around, by driving or other transport

Why families use these lists

They give you everyday things to notice, instead of a general worry. Families often notice changes in the IADLs first: bills piling up, food going off in the fridge, a house that is not kept the way it used to be. Care services also use these lists to describe how much help a person may need. The National Institute on Aging describes long-term care as helping people live as independently and safely as possible when they can no longer do everyday activities on their own.

What a change might look like

  • Unopened mail, or late or missed payments.
  • Missed or doubled medications.
  • Less cooking, more takeout, or an empty fridge.
  • A house that is untidier than usual.
  • Wearing the same clothes, or less attention to grooming.
  • Giving up outings they used to enjoy.

One of these on a hard week is normal. Two or three together over time is a reason to talk.

How to find out, gently

  1. Notice, do not test. Quizzing feels like an exam.
  2. Start with how you feel. “I worry when I can’t reach you” lands better than “you aren’t managing.”
  3. Offer choices. “Would it help to have groceries delivered, or a ride on Thursdays?”
  4. Ask a doctor. They can look at what has changed, and why.

See how to talk to a parent about accepting help.

Where KinectedCare fits

KinectedCare is a privacy-first app for the whole family, free to start on iOS and Android. A CareTeam gives siblings, friends and neighbors one shared place for notes and updates, and your parent stays in charge of what is shared. It is not a medical device or an emergency service. It helps the family keep the same picture of what is happening, so no one person is carrying every worry.

Questions people ask

Does a change in daily tasks mean something serious?
Not necessarily. Many things can cause changes, including illness, medications, loss, low mood or poor sleep. Only a doctor can say what a change means for a particular person.
What should I do first if I notice a change?
Talk with your parent calmly, then tell their doctor what you have seen. Offer one small, practical support, such as grocery delivery.
Who uses the ADL and IADL lists?
Doctors, care planners and long-term care services use them to describe what help a person may need.
Is this medical advice?
No. It is general information. A doctor or qualified healthcare professional can advise on a particular person.
Does KinectedCare replace emergency services?
No. KinectedCare is not a medical device or an emergency service. If someone may be hurt, call local emergency services first.

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