Glossary
Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
Also called: IADLs
Instrumental activities of daily living are the tasks of running a life rather than caring for a body: managing medications and money, cooking, shopping, housekeeping, transportation and using the phone.
Trouble with IADLs is often the first sign that living alone has stopped working. Independent living and in-home care handle IADLs; assisted living adds help with ADLs.
Related terms
Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Activities of daily living are the basic self-care tasks, usually listed as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (getting in and out of a bed or chair), continence and eating.
Independent living
Independent living is age-restricted housing for older adults who need no daily care, with meals, housekeeping and activities offered as services rather than care.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.