Activities of daily living, often called ADLs, are the everyday self-care tasks that support safety, independence and participation at home and in the community.
Total Health Choice Occupational Therapists can assess current routines, identify barriers and recommend practical strategies, aids and supports.
Activities of daily living (ADLs or ADL) is a term used in healthcare to refer to people’s daily self-care activities.
Common ADLs include feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming, work, homemaking, cleaning oneself after defecating and leisure.
Occupational Therapists work with individuals to understand their current routine, identify the support that may be required and build practical strategies around meaningful goals.
Occupational Therapy support can be tailored to the areas of daily living where a person wants to build skills, confidence, safety or independence.
We can explore different aids that may assist with the showering process, depending on the person’s needs.
This could include visual aids and social stories if someone is learning their showering routine. It could also include equipment such as a shower chair or long-handled aids where there are physical barriers to showering.
Where appropriate, we can work one-to-one to build skills during showering time, build support-worker capacity or practise dry runs. An Occupational Therapist can also request support workers to assist with integrating these skills into the person’s routine.
An Occupational Therapist can assess a current medication management system through observation and discussion.
We can explore strategies that assist with managing medication, including visual aids and social stories, as well as equipment such as Webster packs or pill boxes.
The Occupational Therapist can work one-to-one to build skills and integrate strategies into a daily routine. Support workers can also be involved where appropriate.
We can explore different aids that may assist with the toileting process, depending on the person’s needs.
This could include visual aids and social stories if someone is learning their toileting routine. It may also include equipment such as an over-toilet frame or long-handled aids where there are physical barriers to toileting.
Where appropriate, we can build skills during toileting time, build support-worker capacity or practise dry runs. Support workers can assist with integrating skills into daily routines.
A Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist can assess mobility needs.
Once determined, they can set up trials and prepare the reports required to support equipment purchasing through an appropriate funding body, such as the NDIS.
We can make recommendations to Speech Pathologists in functional capacity reports where this is appropriate.
Please contact our team to discuss support for personal hygiene routines and practical strategies that may suit the person’s goals.
Please contact our team to discuss support for dressing routines and practical strategies that may suit the person’s goals.
Please contact our team to discuss support for personal device care and practical strategies that may suit the person’s goals.
Please contact our team to discuss support for feeding routines and practical strategies that may suit the person’s goals.
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) are activities that allow an individual to live independently in a community.
Although not necessary for functional living, the ability to perform IADLs can significantly improve quality of life.
An Occupational Therapist can assess a current financial management system through observation and discussion.
We can explore aids that assist with managing finances, including visual aids and social stories, as well as tools such as calendars and computer use.
An Occupational Therapist can assess a current transportation management system through observation and discussion.
We can explore aids that assist with managing transportation, including visual aids and social stories, as well as using a phone or computer to book public transport.
An Occupational Therapist can assess a current shopping and meal preparation routine through observation and discussion.
We can explore aids that assist with shopping and meal preparation, including visual aids and social stories, or strategies such as using a phone or writing a shopping list.
An Occupational Therapist can assess a current home cleaning routine through observation and discussion.
We can explore aids that assist with house cleaning, including visual aids and social stories, as well as adapted cleaning equipment.
This may include communication systems such as telephone and mail.
An Occupational Therapist can assess a current communication management system through observation and discussion, then explore visual supports, social stories or adapted equipment that may assist.
The Occupational Therapist will complete a variety of assessments. The main assessment completed is observation and discussion, helping the Occupational Therapist understand the current process and what supports may be required.
The Occupational Therapist will also develop a clear understanding of the person’s facilitators and barriers specific to their goal.
Outcome measures are frequently used, such as the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). The COPM is an individualised, client-centred outcome measure designed to capture a person’s self-perception of performance in everyday living.
Other outcome measures may vary depending on the goal.
A follow-up assessment may include trials for recommended equipment that will assist in achieving a person’s specific goals, as well as repeating outcome measures to ensure the person is improving their skills.
It is recommended to have a functional assessment completed to support appropriate funding through the NDIS.
It is also recommended to complete an assessment near the beginning of therapy, so the Occupational Therapist understands the current facilitators and barriers. Understanding where a person has started creates a clearer picture when improvements or new barriers arise throughout therapy.
ADLs relate closely to NDIS and home care plans because these funding bodies may provide support to improve safety and skills relating to activities of daily living.
All goals are related to ADLs in some respect.
A functional report is completed at the end of the initial assessment.
No specific report is completed at the end of an ADL assessment unless requested by the participant, services or NDIS. Where required, a supporting letter will be completed.
Showering, toileting, feeding, dressing and mobility are some of the most common activities where people may seek support.
Total Health Choice works alongside the values of trust, compassion and care.
We help participants feel comfortable discussing personal matters by allowing time to build trust and rapport. We approach these matters in a professional, caring and empathetic way, while ensuring personal information is handled with privacy.
Total Health Choice has a team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists who are fully qualified and experienced in working with individuals who have issues with ADLs.
Our therapists provide support for ADLs and IADLs to help people become safer and more independent at home and in the community.
Speak with Total Health Choice about an assessment, strategies, equipment trials or therapy support for activities of daily living.
