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Glossary

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

More complex daily tasks that let you live independently, cooking, shopping, managing money, using transport.

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are the higher-level daily tasks that support independent community living: meal preparation, grocery shopping, housework, laundry, managing medications, handling money, using phones and computers, and navigating public transport. IADLs require planning, problem-solving and memory in addition to physical ability. They are usually the first skills to decline in early dementia and the last to return after stroke or brain injury. An OT assessing whether someone can live alone after discharge will test IADL performance, not just whether they can dress themselves, but whether they can plan a week of meals and remember to take their medication on time.