Activities of Daily Living Flashcards
6 cards from real CAREGIVER practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Activities of Daily Living flashcards as text
Which of the following is considered a basic Activity of Daily Living (ADL)?
Answer: Bathing and personal hygiene
Basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are fundamental self-care tasks. Bathing and personal hygiene fit this description, while managing finances, shopping, and preparing meals are considered Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), which are more complex tasks required for independent living.
A caregiver is assisting a client who has weakness on their right side from a recent stroke. When helping the client put on a button-up shirt, what is the correct procedure?
Answer: Dress the right (weaker) arm first, then the left (stronger) arm.
The standard and safest method is to dress the client's weaker or affected side first. This technique minimizes the need to move the weaker limb excessively and reduces strain and potential injury. When undressing, the process is reversed: undress the stronger side first.
Which of the following is classified as an Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) rather than a basic ADL?
Answer: Managing medications
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are more complex activities that support an independent lifestyle. Managing medications requires cognitive skills like organization and memory. Toileting, eating, and dressing are basic ADLs, which are fundamental self-care tasks.
When assisting a client with the ADL of eating, the caregiver notices the client frequently coughs and has a gurgly-sounding voice after swallowing. What is the caregiver's MOST important immediate action?
Answer: Stop the feeding immediately and report the symptoms to a supervisor or nurse.
Coughing, choking, or a wet/gurgly voice during or after eating are key signs of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and a high risk of aspiration. The safest and most critical action is to stop the meal immediately to prevent aspiration (food or liquid entering the lungs) and report these serious symptoms to a supervisor or the appropriate medical professional.
A caregiver is about to assist a client with a shower. Which of the following actions is LEAST important for promoting the client's dignity and independence during this ADL?
Answer: Completing the entire shower process as quickly as possible.
While efficiency is good, rushing the process can make the client feel like a task rather than a person and may compromise safety. Promoting dignity and independence involves creating a comfortable environment, encouraging participation, and respecting privacy, all of which take precedence over speed.
When helping a client with toileting, which action is a critical component of this Activity of Daily Living?
Answer: All of the above.
The ADL of toileting is a multi-step process. It includes not only getting to and from the toilet but also the associated tasks of managing clothing, performing personal hygiene (cleaning), and washing hands afterward to prevent the spread of infection. All listed actions are essential parts of safely and properly assisting with this ADL.