Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL, Katz Index)

 

The word "assistance" means supervision, direction or personal assistance.

 

Activities of Daily Living:

(1) bathing

(2) dressing

(3) toileting

(4) transfer

(5) continence

(6) feeding

 

Bathing (sponge bath, tub bath or shower):

(1) Receives no assistance (gets in and out of tube by self if tub is usual means of bathing). [independent]

(2) Receives assistance in bathing only one part of the body (such as back or a leg). [intermediate]

(3) Receives assistance in bathing more than one part of the body, or is not bathed. [dependent]

 

Dressing (gets clothes from closet and drawers, including underclothes, outer garments and using fasteners (including braces if worn):

(1) Patient gets clothes and gets completely dress without assistance. [independent]

(2) Gets clothes and gets dressed without assistance except for assistance in tying shoes.[intermediate]

(3) Receives assistance in getting clothes or getting dressed, or stays partly or completely undressed. [dependent]

 

Toileting (going to the "toilet room" for bowel and urine elimination; cleaning self after elimination; arranging clothes):

(1) Goes to the "toilet room", cleans self and arranges clothes without assistance. [independent]

(2) Receives assistance in going to the "toilet room" or in cleansing self or in arranging clothes after elimination or in use of night bedpan or commode. [intermediate]

(3) Does not go to the "toilet room" for the elimination process. [dependent]

 

Transfer:

(1) Moves in and out of bed as well as in and out of chair without assistance. [independent]

(2) Moves in and out of bed or chair with assistance. [intermediate]

(3) Does not get out of bed. [dependent]

 

Continence:

(1) Controls urination and bowel movements completely by self. [independent]

(2) Has occasional "accidents". [intermediate]

(3) Supervision helps keep urine or bowel control; catheter is used, or is incontinent. [dependent]

 

Feeding:

(1) Feeds self without assistance. [independent]

(2) Feeds self except for getting assistance in cutting meat or buttering bread. [intermediate]

(3) Receives assistance in feeding or is fed partly or completely by using tubes or intravenous fluids. [dependent]

Grade	Description
A	independent in all 6 functions
B	independent in all but one of the 6 functions
C	dependent in bathing and one other function
D	dependent in bathing, dressing and one other function
E	dependent in bathing, dressing, going to toilet and one other function
F	dependent in bathing, dressing, going to toilet, transferring and one other function
G	dependent in all 6 functions
other	dependent in at least 2 functions but not classified as C, D, E or F