In the context of nursing assistance, what does 'ADLs' stand for?

In the context of nursing assistance, 'ADLs' stands for Activities of Daily Living. This term encompasses the basic self-care tasks that individuals perform on a daily basis to maintain their personal health and well-being. These activities typically include eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring from one place to another (like getting in and out of bed), and maintaining personal hygiene.

Understanding ADLs is crucial for nursing assistants as they often help residents or patients perform these tasks, especially when individuals have physical limitations due to age, illness, or disability. Assisting with ADLs ensures that individuals maintain their dignity, independence, and quality of life. In long-term care settings, a thorough assessment of a person’s ability to perform ADLs informs the care plan, leading to tailored support that meets each individual's needs.