If you've noticed the term "ADLs" in your loved one's daily update, you're not alone in wondering what it means. ADLs are a standard part of senior care, and understanding them can help you feel more informed and connected to your loved one's wellbeing.
What does ADL stand for?
ADL stands for Activities of Daily Living. These are the basic everyday tasks that are essential to independent living and personal care. Tracking ADLs helps your loved one's care team monitor their overall health, independence, and well-being over time.
What ADLs are tracked:
Eating — whether your loved one is eating well, their appetite, and any notable observations about meals
Bathing — assistance needed with showering or bathing, and how the process went
Dressing — ability to dress independently or level of assistance needed
Mobility — how your loved one is moving around, including walking, transferring from bed to chair, and balance
Toileting — assistance needed with bathroom activities
Sleeping — overnight rest patterns and sleep quality
Why ADLs matter:
ADLs are one of the most important indicators of a resident's overall health and quality of life. Changes in ADLs over time can signal:
Improvement in strength, independence, or recovery
Early signs of a health change worth monitoring
The need for an adjustment in care support
Tracking ADLs consistently allows your loved one's care team to spot patterns early and respond proactively — before small changes become bigger concerns.
What you might see in your loved one's update:
ADL information in your daily update may appear as:
A simple summary — for example, "ate well at all meals today."
A checklist of completed activities
A care note with more details about a specific activity
A chart or graph showing trends over time in the health history section
What if an ADL looks concerning?
If something in your loved one's ADL update worries you — for example, a sudden change in appetite or mobility — use the secure chat feature to send a message to their care team. They can provide more context and let you know if any action is being taken.
A few things to know:
ADL tracking is a standard practice across all senior living communities — it is not a sign that something is wrong
Not every ADL may appear in every update — your loved one's community customizes which information is shared based on what is most relevant and helpful for families.
Small day-to-day variations in ADLs are normal — look for trends over time rather than reacting to a single day's data
