Activities of Daily Living Checklists for Seniors

Activities of daily living (ADLs) are routine tasks that everyone does, bathing, eating, using the toilet, getting dressed. As people age, these tasks often become harder. A 2019 study found that many older adults struggle with ADLs without help. When ADLs become difficult, the risks rise: falls, accidents, and a declining quality of life.

Common ADLs include bathing, getting in and out of bed or chairs, walking, eating, and using the toilet. Over one million Americans aged 50 and older need assisted living to handle these activities, according to AARP data.

When older adults cannot manage ADLs safely, the consequences are real, falls, injuries, infections, and worsening health. This article provides a checklist to help you assess whether your loved one may need support.

Basic ADLs

• Bathing and showering
• Dressing
• Bladder and bowel control
• Eating, including chewing and swallowing
• Moving from place to place
• Feeding oneself
• Personal hygiene and grooming
  • Brushing teeth
  • Combing hair
  • Styling hair
• Caring for devices like hearing aids or glasses
• Sleep and rest
• Sexual activity
• Toilet hygiene
  • Urinating
  • Defecating

Instrumental ADLs

• Pet care
• Child rearing
• Using phones or other communication devices
• Getting around in the community
• Managing health conditions
• Maintaining health
• Managing finances
• Preparing meals and cleaning up
• Grocery shopping
• Knowing and following safety procedures
• Responding to emergencies
• Religious observances

Does your elderly loved one need assisted living?

Difficulty with ADLs doesn't necessarily mean major life changes. Your aging parent might dress independently but struggle with zippers, buttons, or laces. In that case, you could adapt their wardrobe, replacing buttons with velcro, for example. Small adjustments often make a real difference.

Even if your loved one can use a fork, they may have trouble chewing or swallowing certain foods. Watch for changes in how your senior family member handles daily tasks. The checklist below can help you decide whether they need a caregiver or assisted living.

Eating

• Can my senior family member feed themselves?
• Do they have trouble chewing or swallowing?
• Can they move food from a plate or bowl to their mouth?

Personal hygiene

• Do they stay clean?
• How often do they bathe?
• Do they brush their teeth?
• Is their skin unwashed?
• Is their hair tangled or matted?
• Are their fingernails long or dirty?
• Have you noticed an odor?

Dressing

• Can they physically put on clothes?
• Can they choose appropriate clothing?
• Does limited mobility make dressing painful or impossible?
  • Do they struggle with underwear, socks, pants, or shirts?
• Do they feel pain when reaching or bending to dress?

Grooming

• Can they comb their own hair?
• Do they keep their fingernails and toenails clean?
• Can they apply or remove makeup?
• Do they maintain their facial hair?

Toileting

• Do they have trouble controlling their bladder or bowels?
• Can they use the toilet independently?
• Can they walk to the toilet without help?
• Does using the toilet exhaust them?

Mobility

• Do they have trouble walking?
• Do they have pain in their legs or back?
• Do they use a wheelchair, cane, or walker?
• Can they get in and out of bed on their own?
• Can they climb stairs?

This checklist can help you figure out whether your loved one needs help with ADLs. It's a starting point for decisions about hiring a home caregiver and adjusting their daily routine to support their physical health and independence.

Final words

Aging affects everyone differently. As people move past 55, they often face changes, weaker muscles, slower healing, memory shifts. Some of these changes make ADLs harder. This checklist can help you and your loved one understand what support they need, so you can plan together.