activities of daily living (ADL) /aktiv″itēz/ , the activities usually performed in the course of a normal day in a person’s life, such as eating, toileting, dressing, bathing, or brushing the teeth. The ability to perform ADL may be compromised by a variety of causes, including chronic illnesses and accidents. The limitation may be temporary or permanent; rehabilitation may involve relearning the skills or learning new ways to accomplish ADL. The goal of health care professionals is to promote the greatest degree of independence for the patient. See also Barthel Index.
