Florida Assisted Living Facilities Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT considered an activity of daily living (ADL)?

1. Dressing

2. Transferring

3. Taking medication

4. Toileting

The correct answer is: Taking medication

The correct answer identifies 'taking medication' as not being classified as an activity of daily living (ADL). Activities of daily living typically encompass basic self-care tasks that are essential for personal independence and functioning in daily life. These include dressing, transferring (the ability to move from one surface to another), bathing, toileting, feeding, and maintaining personal hygiene. While taking medication is certainly an important aspect of health management, it is not categorized as a fundamental self-care activity like the others. Instead, it falls under instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), which are more complex tasks that support an individual’s independence, such as managing finances, meal preparation, and medication management. This distinction is crucial as it affects the assessment of an individual's overall care needs in assisted living facilities.