Which term describes a person who cannot perform two or more activities of daily living (ADLs)?

Which term describes a person who cannot perform two or more activities of daily living (ADLs)?

• A. Chronically ill
• B. Terminally ill
• C. Disabled
• D. Injured

Answer: (A)

When we talk about not being able to perform two or more activities of daily living, the key idea is a limitation in basic self-care activities. ADLs typically include tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), and continence. If someone cannot do two or more of these without help, they’re described as disabled because disability centers on a functional limitation, not just having a disease or a temporary condition. Chronically ill describes having a long-term illness, which doesn’t necessarily mean ADLs are limited. Terminally ill refers to prognosis and life expectancy, not the ongoing ability to perform daily tasks. Injured might cause a temporary deficit, but it doesn’t specify the ongoing, two-or-more-ADL limitation that defines disability. So the term that best fits the situation is disabled.

When we talk about not being able to perform two or more activities of daily living, the key idea is a limitation in basic self-care activities. ADLs typically include tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring (getting in and out of bed or a chair), and continence. If someone cannot do two or more of these without help, they’re described as disabled because disability centers on a functional limitation, not just having a disease or a temporary condition.

Chronically ill describes having a long-term illness, which doesn’t necessarily mean ADLs are limited. Terminally ill refers to prognosis and life expectancy, not the ongoing ability to perform daily tasks. Injured might cause a temporary deficit, but it doesn’t specify the ongoing, two-or-more-ADL limitation that defines disability. So the term that best fits the situation is disabled.