Bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating are all examples of which category of activities?

Bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating are categorized as activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities are essential for personal care and involve basic self-care tasks that individuals need to perform on a daily basis to maintain their health and well-being. ADLs are often used to assess an individual's functional status and their ability to care for themselves independently.

These tasks are foundational for personal hygiene and nutritional intake and have a direct impact on an individual’s quality of life. Recognizing these acts as activities of daily living helps healthcare providers in evaluating the level of support a patient may need, whether in an inpatient setting, long-term care, or home assistance.

Instrumental activities of daily living, on the other hand, refer to more complex tasks needed for independent living, such as managing finances, preparing meals, and using transportation. Recreational activities generally involve leisure pursuits that contribute to a person’s quality of life but are not essential for basic functioning. Health maintenance activities may include actions taken to maintain or improve health but are not synonymous with basic self-care tasks.