What are Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)?

• A. Tasks like cooking, cleaning, shopping, and managing money.
• B. Basic self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing.
• C. Medical decision-making tasks.
• D. Physical therapy exercises.

Answer: (A)

Instrumental Activities of Daily Living are the higher-level tasks that enable someone to live independently in the community. They require planning, organization, and problem-solving, not just basic physical self-care. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, and managing money are classic examples because each involves coordinating steps, making decisions, and handling resources to maintain daily life.

Basic self-care tasks like bathing and dressing fall under Activities of Daily Living, which are foundational skills needed for daily functioning. Medical decision-making and specific rehabilitation activities don’t fit the standard set of IADLs; medical decisions can be part of health management but aren’t typically grouped as IADLs, and doing physical therapy exercises is a rehabilitation activity, not a daily living task.

So, the tasks listed—cooking, cleaning, shopping, and managing money—best illustrate what IADLs are and why they matter for independent living.