Activity Daily Living

 

Activity Daily Living

The activities of daily living (ADLs) is a term used to collectively describe fundamental skills that are required to independently care for oneself such as eating, bathing, and mobility. The term activities of daily living was first coined by Sidney Katz in 1950.

ADL is used as an indicator of a person’s functional status. The inability to perform ADLs results in the dependence of other individuals and/or mechanical devices. The inability to accomplish essential activities of daily living may lead to unsafe conditions and poor quality of life. Measurement of an individual’s ADL is important as these are predictors of admission to nursing homes, need for alternative living arrangements, hospitalization and use of paid home care. The outcome of a treatment program can also be assessed by reviewing a patient’s ADL.

Nurses are often the first to note when patients' functionality declines during hospitalization; therefore, routine screening of ADLs is imperative and nursing assessment of ADL's is performed on all hospitalized patients.  Hospitalization for an acute or chronic illness may influence a person’s ability to meet personal goals and sustain independent living. Chronic illnesses progress over time, resulting in a physical decline that may lead to a loss of ability to perform ADL's

The five ADLs:

• Personal hygiene and grooming
• Dressing: dressing and undressing.
• Transferring: movement and mobility.
• Toileting : bedpan and oral-care
• Eating : preparing food and feeding.

PERSONAL HYGIENE AND GROOMING

Pesonal hygiene is keeping the body clean and helps prevent the spread of germs. Grooming is caring for fingernails and hair examples of these activities would be styling hair, shaving, trimming and painting fingernails.

Example of personal hygiene and gromming 

•  Bathing 
•  Hair care 
• Nail care

BATHING

Bathing is the washing of the body with a fluid, usually water or an aqueous solution, or the immersion of the body in water.

Purpose of bathing patient

• To ensure the patient is always in a clean condition.

• To ensure the patient is always in a clean condition.

• Eliminates unpleasant odors on the patient's body.

The caregiver will bathe the cared for patient according to the set time. For example 2 times a day, morning and evening.  The caregiver will also bathe the patient according to the patient's current condition.For example when the patient is unable to get up the bath the caregiver will bathe the patient in bed according to the prescribed procedure and if the patient can take a bath on their own the caregiver is still necessary to assist and access each patient's treatment.

HAIR CARE

Hair care improves the morale of the patient. It stimulates the circulation of the scalp. Shampooing removes bacteria, microorganisms, oils, and dirt that cling to the hair.

Purpose of hair care

• Gives freshnes to the patient

• Reduces itching and dandruff on the patient's scalp

The caregiver must wash the patient's hair at least once a day according to the patient's current condition.  Washing the patient's hair using a procedure that has been learned when the patient is unable to get out of bed.

NAILS CARE

Cleaned and trimmed fingernails and toenails are important for overall health. Germs often collect underneath the nails.

 

purpose of nail care: 

• Toenails and fingernails should be kept clean,neatly trimmed, and smooth to prevent injury to skin
• Trimming the nail too short may cause ingrown nails that can be painful and cause infection.
•  Encourage individuals to do as much as they can for themselves.

DRESSING : DRESSING AND UNDRESSING

Purpose of dressing

• To maintain self-esteem,comfort and protection while dressing the patient

TRANSFERRING : MOVEMENT AND MOBILITY

1)  Transferring from bed to wheelchairs

Purpose of transferring from bed to wheelchairs

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2)  transferring from wheelchairs to bed

Purpose of transferring from wheelchairs to bed

TOILETING : BEDPAN AND ORAL-CARE

1) bedpan 

A bedpan is a container used to collect urine or feces, and it is shaped to fit under a person lying or sitting in bed. Bedpans can be made of plastic or metal, and some can be used with liners to prevent splashing and to make cleaning easier.

Purpose of bedpans

• Makes it easier for the patient to release the desire without having to get out of bed

• To take samples for laboratory testing.

• To measure patient excretion.

2) ORAL CARE

Mouth care or oral care means the practice of keeping mouth and teeth healthy and clean by brushing and flossing to prevent from bad odor and dental problems by regular brushing and cleaning. The mouth is important for eating, drinking, taste, breathing, speech, communication and the immune system.

Purpose of oral care

• Good oral can help prevent bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease—and can help you keep your teeth as you get older.
• Eliminates bad breath and refreshes the mouth

EATING : PREPARING FOOD AND FEEDING

Preparing food is the process of preparing food for the patient being cared for. The food provided is very important because it can add nutrients and energy to the patient. Therefore, caregivers must prepare food as directed by the doctor.

Purpose of preparing food

• To ensure that the food provided is nutritious according to the doctor's instructions.
•  Ensure that it does not contain substances that can cause pain. For example shrimp for patients who are allergic to seafood. 
• Ensure that the food provided facilitates the patient to eat. For example porridge for elderly patients

Feeding 

The aim of feeding patients is to provide adequate nourishment to help and not to hinder restoration of health. In some cases artificial feeding (Feeding given other than through the mouth) may be necessary. Here we will deal with feeding the patients who are allowed to have food or fluids by mouth

Purpose of feeding

• Ensure patients eat foods prepared for health benefits.

• Helping elderly patients to eat